Following a separation, agreeing on child support can often prove challenging. Our team recognise this and is committed to helping you achieve a solution that is suitable for you and your children, promoting an amicable approach along the way
At Taylor Emmet, our expert Child Support Solicitors and Lawyers have experience in helping couples to resolve any disputes fairly and without lengthy, costly, and combative legal battles. That said, if court proceedings are required to find a solution, rest assured that we have the expertise needed to provide robust representation.
Speak to our Expert Family Law Solicitors
Our team will make sure that we deal with all issues arising out of your divorce, including child arrangements, financial settlements or domestic abuse.
Our expertise with child support
We understand that discussing child support can lead to difficult conversations and, in some cases, can cause animosity between you and your former partner. We are here to listen to your thoughts and concerns, answer any questions you might have, and use our wealth of knowledge to offer you carefully tailored solutions.
Our Family Law team are ranked among the Legal 500’s top family law firms in the Sheffield City region, which reflects both our experience and expertise.
As members of Resolution, we are committed to helping couples resolve disputes as fairly and amicably as possible, without lengthy legal battles. If it is necessary to go to court, your case will be dealt with skilfully, sensitively and efficiently.
Our Legal 500 tier one ranked team is also able to handle urgent child support cases.
How our Child Support Solicitors can help you
Voluntary child support arrangements
In most cases, you will have the opportunity to make child support arrangements voluntarily, with the cooperation of your former partner. This approach will help to ensure that you reach an agreement which you are both happy with and will help to provide financial security for your children.
Our Child Support Solicitors and Lawyers use various methods of dispute resolution to help resolve any disagreements you may encounter when making voluntary arrangements for your children, such as negotiation, mediation and collaborative law, keeping conflict to a minimum.
We will sit down with you to review your situation, the sort of arrangements you would like to make and advise you on the best course of action to help achieve this.
Court intervention
If it is not possible to reach an agreement over child support voluntarily, we can advise on applications to the Child Maintenance Service (CMS), or through the courts if the CMS is unable to assist.
The courts’ powers to deal with child support payments are limited, but there are still circumstances in which an order for maintenance can be made. For example, if the divorcing couple is in agreement about the child maintenance, one of the parents lives abroad or the paying parent’s income exceeds £3,000 per week and a ‘top up’ order is appropriate.
Whatever the case, our Child Support Solicitors and Lawyers can advise you on the suitability of making a formal application to resolve disagreements over child support and represent you at any court hearings, providing you with the peace of mind that everything will be taken care of.
Adult children
In certain cases, for example, if an adult child has a disability, the courts can make a child maintenance order. Applications can be made by a parent, or the adult child themselves.
Unlike the CMS, the courts do not have a set formula for calculating the amount of child maintenance. They have wide discretion and will take into account all the circumstances, including the child’s own financial resources and earning capacity.
Our team will be able to advise you in relation to maintenance orders for adult children, guiding you through the process and ensuring you have all the information you need to make an informed decision on how best to proceed.
Varying child support agreements
Effective child support arrangements should be comprehensive and account for any potential changes in circumstances. However, there are some situations where it will be necessary to vary an existing agreement as it no longer provides for the right level of support.
Our team can advise you on negotiating a variation to the agreement or court order, and if necessary, representing you on a court application.
Non-payment of child support
If your former partner fails to pay child support, the method of enforcement will depend upon whether you have a CMS assessment or a court order. We can advise you on the steps you can take for securing payment, including applying to the CMS, or through the courts.
We can also work with you to help resolve any disputes over payments amicably and arrange solutions for the future.
