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Child maintenance definition

What does Child maintenance mean? child maintenance is the money one parent pays to the other to meet a child’s day‑to‑day needs after separation (for example housing, food, clothing and related costs). The term is used across the UK and Ireland: in the UK it operates mainly under statutory child support schemes; in Ireland it is set by court order. England & Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland: maintenance can be agreed privately or arranged via the child maintenance service (CMS). The CMS calculates (and, if required, collects) child support using a statutory formula based largely on the paying parent’s gross income, the...

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Child maintenance and other financial provision for children: CMS calculations, Schedule 1 Children Act 1989, top-up orders, lump sums, property settlements and procedure (England and Wales)

Published by a LexisNexis Family expert
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This note offers broad guidance on financial support for children. Your family solicitor can give tailored advice to suit your particular circumstances and needs.

Child maintenance

Under the law relating to child maintenance (also called child support), the court is generally unable to make a child maintenance order other than by the parties’ consent (agreement), except where certain exceptions apply. Any consent order for a child’s Maintenance binds for only one year, after which either parent may seek a calculation from the Child Maintenance Service (CMS), if they wish to do so. Where you and the other parent cannot settle the level of maintenance, either party can apply to the CMS for a formal assessment...

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Web page updated on 22/05/2026

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