Child Maintenance Solicitors
Specialists in safeguarding your child’s financial future.
When you and your partner separate, one of your most important shared responsibilities is ensuring your child continues to receive the financial support they need.
Child maintenance, or child support, covers essential costs like food, clothing, housing and education, but it is about more than just money. It’s about providing stability for your child as your family circumstances change.
It’s natural to have questions. You might wonder how payments are calculated, what a fair amount is, how to start the conversation with your ex-partner, or how to handle non-payment.
The Child Maintenance Service (CMS) is often the first port of call, but our specialist child law solicitors in London and the South East can also help.
At Thomas Mansfield, we can help you incorporate child maintenance into a financial consent order or, if needed, apply for a top-up order to ensure appropriate support in your case.
How is maintenance calculated?
The CMS usually calculates payments based on the paying parent’s gross weekly income. You can use this calculator to work out the maintenance cost for your children.
Call us on 020 7426 4915 or
Request a callbackHelping you to agree child maintenance payments.
Reaching a fair and workable child maintenance agreement can sometimes be challenging, especially when emotions are high.
At Thomas Mansfield Family Law, we’re here to guide you through this process, ensuring your child’s financial needs are always prioritised. Whether you’re seeking a private arrangement or need help from the courts, we have the expertise to guide you every step of the way.
Here are some of the main options available to you:
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You and your ex-partner can come to an agreement on child maintenance privately. This approach allows for flexibility and control, helping you create a tailored arrangement that suits both parents and keeps the focus on your child’s well-being. We can help you include child maintenance in a financial consent order.
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If you’re unable to agree on a private arrangement, the Child Maintenance Service can step in to calculate the amount. They use a formula based on the paying parent’s income, making sure the payment reflects your child’s needs and both parents’ circumstances.
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In situations where an agreement can’t be reached, or if there are complex financial factors involved, you may need to apply to the court for the necessary assistance such as a top up order. This order ensures that additional funds are provided to support your child’s lifestyle and future needs.
Enforcing child maintenance orders
If your ex-partner is not paying child maintenance, we can help. Often, non-payment issues can be resolved privately, and we can assist through mediation or other out of court options.
We can also assist you in taking legal action to enforce the payments and protect your child’s financial future. Our priority is ensuring your child receives the financial help they are entitled to, and we are here to help you every step of the way.
Meet our family law team
Taking the next step.
Our experienced family law solicitors will work closely with you to ensure the best outcome for your child. We’ll guide you through the process, offering practical advice and guidance every step of the way.
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Call us or request a callback, and we’ll arrange a detailed consultation where we’ll listen carefully to your concerns and objectives.
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We’ll carefully assess your situation and provide tailored advice on your options, giving you a clear path forward and a breakdown of costs.
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Once you’re ready, we’ll handle your case with care, managing paperwork and guiding you through the legal process at every step.
Call us on 020 7426 4915 or
Request a callback
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Thomas Mansfield has an exceptional and highly collaborative team. Whenever my key point of contact has been away, issues are quickly picked up and dealt with by other members of the team, all of whom appear to have a great, collective and collaborative understanding of their clients’ issues.
Frequently asked questions
How can parents communicate effectively during a divorce for the benefit of their children?
When parents separate, the way they communicate has a lasting impact on their children. It helps to keep conversations respectful and focused on practical arrangements rather than emotions.
Many parents find it easier to use co-parenting apps or shared calendars to stay organised and reduce misunderstandings. If things start to break down, mediation can offer a calm, neutral setting where both sides are supported in finding a way forward that keeps the child's wellbeing at the centre.
What factors influence child maintenance calculations?
Child maintenance payments are mainly based on the paying parent's income, but several other elements come into play. The Child Maintenance Service applies a formula that looks at income after tax and pension deductions, as well as the number of children and how much time they spend with each parent. In some cases, extra costs such as medical needs or school fees may also be taken into account.
Every family's situation is slightly different, which is why professional guidance from a child maintenance solicitor can be helpful in understanding what's fair and realistic.
What legal steps are involved in the surrogacy process?
The surrogacy process involves several legal stages to ensure that the intended parents become the child's legal parents. A key step is applying for a parental order, which transfers legal parenthood from the surrogate to the intended parents. When surrogacy takes place overseas, the process can be more complex because the rules vary from one country to another.
Taking early advice from a specialist surrogacy lawyer will help avoid costly delays and ensure every legal requirement is met properly.
Do grandparents have legal rights to see their grandchildren?
Grandparents don't automatically have a legal right to contact with their grandchildren, but the courts do recognise how important those relationships can be. If contact has been restricted, a grandparent can apply to the court for permission to make an application. The judge will then consider whether seeing the grandparent is in the child's best interests, taking into account the family history and the child's welfare.
Many families find that family mediation helps rebuild communication before the court stage is even needed.
What challenges should I expect with international child custody matters?
Disputes involving children across different countries can be complicated. There may be disagreements about which country's courts should decide the case, or how international conventions (such as the Hague Convention) apply. Cultural differences, travel arrangements, and the practicalities of shared care can also create difficulties.
Because every country's system works differently, it's essential to get specialist legal advice from a specialst international child lawyer early on to avoid mistakes and protect both your rights and your child's stability.
What should I consider if I plan to relocate with my child?
Moving to a new area or another country with your child isn't a decision to make alone. You'll need the other parent's consent, or, if that's not possible, the court's permission.
Think carefully about how the move will affect your child's schooling, friendships, and their relationship with both parents. The court's focus will always be on what arrangement best supports the child's emotional and practical needs, so detailed planning and clear communication are key before relocating with a child.
How are child arrangements determined?
When parents can't agree on where a child should live or how much time they spend with each parent, the court can step in to make what's called a "child arrangements order."
The judge will look at the child's welfare, their wishes and feelings (depending on age), and each parent's ability to meet their needs. However, families are encouraged to first speak to a child arrangements lawyer, to try mediation or negotiation, as reaching an agreement together is usually less stressful and far better for the child in the long run.
Ready to talk things through?
Speak with our family law solicitors.
Family matters often involve important decisions about your future and your children. Our experienced family law solicitors provide thoughtful, specialist advice tailored to your circumstances.
Complete our form to arrange an initial discussion, or call us to speak directly with our family law team.
Contact us
Please note we cannot offer Legal Aid.