Changing CSA Decisions...
Below are our articles on the subject of Changing CSA Decisions. If you can't see what you are looking for our other categories are displayed on the left under 'Our Quick Links'...
Appealing Child Support Decisions
If you're unhappy with a decision made by the CSA in relation to a child maintenance payment, find out more about the appeals process here....
Arranging Child Support Through the Courts
There are several ways to arrange child support payments, one of which is through the courts. Find out about how to do this, and how the court can enforce payments, here....
Can a Parent Give Up His or Her Parental Rights?
How does the law recognise parents in the case of surrogacy, adoption and fostering? Find out more here....
Can I Get Back Pay for Child Maintenance?
If you're owed child support back payments by a non-resident parent, can you recover them?...
Can You Change a CSA/CMS Decision?
How CSA decisions can be changed, the circumstances in which decisions cannot be changed, and how to complain against non-changeable decisions....
Child Custody Rights
Child custody (now referred to as residency) determines who should be responsible for the care and charge of a child, after divorce or separation. There are however other factors that must also be tak...
Child Maintenance Options
There are a number of ways a parent with care can secure financial support for their child. Understanding the maintenance options available will enable them to make an informed choice....
Child Maintenance Payments: Your Entitlement
A parent with care may be entitled to receive periodic maintenance payments from a non resident parent. Clarifying entitlement however, ensures the correct amount of child support payment is available...
Child Support Aims and Objectives
Understanding the functions of a Child Support agency may enable parents and legal guardians, who care for children, to temporarily adapt whilst the process of calculating maintenance payments is sort...
Child Support and the Children Act 1989
Find out all about how the Children Act 1989 governs decisions in family courts as well as the rules relating to child support....
Child Support and the Family Law Act 1996
The Family Law Act brought in a number of new measures that allowed families in difficulty to be able to order someone not to contact someone else, and to force someone not to live in the family home....
Child Support and the Human Rights Act 1998
Ever wondered how the Human Rights Act applies to you? Find out about your human rights in the context of child support here....
Child Support Guidelines
Enforcing maintenance payments is just one of the activities the CSA undertakes on behalf of parents with care. Acknowledging the content of the Child Support Agency's guidelines will help parents und...
Child Support Law and Parental Responsibility
Understanding parental responsibilities will enable mothers and fathers to establish the most suitable child support arrangements for their child....
Child Support Laws Around the World
Understanding how the law, with regards to child support, works around the world can provide useful information for parents with care who may have to trace a non resident parent, in order to claim chi...
Child Support News/Blog
Our blog with news, comment and opinion on everything relating to child support law....
Child Support vs Contact With the Child
Maintaining regular contact with a child enforces the child's rights to have regular contact with both parents. Separating parents will however, have to consider how they can best contribute towards p...
Child Support: Legal Case Studies
Sometimes disputes about paternity and child support can go to the highest courts in the land. Here are some examples....
CMS Complaints, Appeals and Tribunals
An Appeals Tribunal provides parents with an opportunity to appeal against a decision made by the Child Support Agency, in regards to maintenance payments. Understanding what happens will enable paren...
CMS Decisions That Are Wrong in Law
Sometimes decisions are made that are incompatible with domestic or European laws. We discuss what can be done in these circumstances....
Court Procedures for Obtaining Child Support
If a non resident parent fails to comply with maintenance requests the best solution is to sue them for child support. Understanding court procedures makes the process easier to deal with....
CSA Ongoing Cases: Periodic Case Checks
The Child Support Agency carry out case checks on their existing files. The frequency of these checks depends on the particular circumstances of the case and whether the non-resident parent has been c...
Dealing With Maintenance Arrears
Falling into arrears or failing to pay maintenance can have serious consequences. Addressing problems as soon as possible will not only benefit you, but also your child....
Dealing With Payment Irregularities
Irregularities, in the payment of maintenance, often occurs when information provided becomes out-of-date or invalid. Ensuring the Child Support Agency remains informed of all changes to personal deal...
Disputes over Paternity
What happens if there is a question mark over a child's paternity? This article discusses the issues relating to child support payments....
Distribution and Payment: What is Involved?
Child support payments are mostly automatically deducted from the non resident parent’s income. However, child support payment arrangements can vary considerably....
Divorce and the Law Regarding Payments
When a separating couple is unable to reach an agreement over the division of property, child care or the amount of payable maintenance, applying to the courts for a relevant order may be the best sol...
Does the CSA Have To Get Involved?
Many parents do not involve the CSA in their child maintenance arrangements. Could a private agreement be right for you? Find out here....
Domestic Violence and Contact
A guide to help you understand how domestic violence is perceived by the courts in relation to contact. Exploring what kind of contact can be expected and what kind of evidence the courts expect when ...
Duration of Child Support Orders
Paying maintenance for a child’s upbringing is a big commitment for any parent to make. Supporting the child however, is a parent's responsibility and may require modification from time to time....
Employers' Legal Obligations to the CSA
If the CSA obtains an attachment order to your earnings for payment of child support, your employer has certain obligations to the CSA by law....
Enforcement of CSA/CMS Payments
When a non-resident parent gets behind on payments the CSA can take enforcement action. Find out the various steps....
How Child Support Assessment and Calculation Works
A claim for child support must take a number of basic requirements and circumstances into consideration. Calculating the amount of maintenance payable by the non resident parent can only be worked out...
How Do Child Support Agencies Work?
Child support agencies arrange the collection and payment distribution of child maintenance funds. This can only be done on the request of the resident parent, and after relevant information has been ...
How Much Will I Have To Pay?
Here's how the Child Support Agency calculate how much maintenance a non-resident parent is expected to pay for one or more children....
How the CSA Works
Understanding exactly what the Child Support Agency does, and how it operates, can enable parents with care to make more informed decisions regarding making a claim for maintenance support from a non ...
How to Make a Claim for Child Support
The Child Support Agency (CSA) can be contacted in a number of ways. The agency's aim is to assist parents with care with claim application, and to process, collect and distribute maintenance as quick...
Income: Protected, Assessable and Exempt
Find out how the CSA classifies different types of income under the 'old rules' relating to child maintenance calculations....
Judicial Review: Decision Exceeded The Power of the CSA/CMS?
Decisions that are made that cannot be appealed, revised or superseded may be challenged by way of judicial review. Find out more here....
Legal Rights for Separating Parents
When parents separate, there are lots of issues to consider. Here we provide an overview of the things that you need to think about in terms of your legal rights and obligations....
Lifestyle Inconsistent With Income Award: How is it Decided?
This article explains the options that are available to the CSA in enforcing liability orders and exemptions in relation to distress....
Maintenance: Separation and Divorce
It is a parent’s responsibility and obligation to provide financial support for their children, even after separation or divorce. By sharing care and parental responsibilities, both individuals can ma...
Moving Abroad, The Issues
Moving abroad with a child can create problems with the non-resident parent. We discuss the main issues here....
Non-Payment and Visitation / Penalties
What happens to visitation and contact if a non-resident parent isn't paying child maintenance? Find out here....
Seeking Child Support Representation
If you are a parent with care or non resident parent who is experiencing problems receiving or paying maintenance, seeking expert legal advice may simplify matters....
Shared Care of a Child
In many domestic arrangements more than one person is responsible for the care of a child. Find out how this impacts on child maintenance arrangements here....
Supercession: The Powers of the CSA to Supersede a Decision
The CSA has numerous powers to change decisions. Those that cannot be revised may be superseded. Find out more here....
The Different Types of Contact Orders
We take a closer look at contact orders focusing on who gets contact, how to get contact, different types of contact and when the courts will not order contact at all....
The EU and Common Child Support Laws
Under UK and continental law it is within children’s rights to acquire a detailed summary of the non resident parent’s income, in order to receive maintenance payment entitlements. EU law however prov...
The Law and Single Fathers
Maintaining relationships after separation can be difficult. For many fathers exercising parental rights, after separation, becomes a minefield. Understanding what Parental Responsibility is, and how ...
The Law and Single Mothers
A single mother is entitled to full parental responsibility over her child, and is able to choose whether or not this is shared with the child's father. Being able to decide what is best for the child...
The Pros and Cons of the Child Support Laws
Understanding parental responsibility enables non resident parents to view the financial commitment they make, by paying periodic maintenance, in a more acceptable way....
The Reform of the CSA
The Child Support Agency (CSA) has had many changes over recent years, primarily due to criticism over maintenance backlog and rising administrative costs. Getting it right however will require many m...
The Use of Child Support Payments
It is generally expected that children will share in the living standard of both parents, after a separation or divorce. Acknowledging an acceptable way of spending Child Support payments will stop is...
Understanding Children's Rights
Although Children’s Rights are protected by a number of established laws there are still many ways in which a parent can address certain issues. Ensuring their child's best interests are always taken ...
What Are Parents' Rights on Separation?
If you're separating or about to separate from your partner, you need to know what your rights and responsibilities are, especially when it comes to your child. Find out the basics here....
What Counts as Earnings?
If you're going to have money deducted from your earnings in order to pay your child maintenance, it is worth knowing what is and what isn't classed as 'earnings' for the purposes of the CSA. Find out...
What Happens When the CSA/CMS Gets it Wrong?
Like many organisations dealing with payments, the Child Support Agency sometimes gets it wrong. Understanding how the complaints process works will help parents find a suitable resolution to their ca...
What if Your Child's Support Payments Stop?
How to determine whether or not a change or stop in child maintenance has been made correctly....
What Kind of Child Support is Available?
Any parent can appreciate the rising costs of bringing up a child. Being aware of the forms of financial assistance available, to any parent with a child aged 16 or under, can ease the pressure of mai...
What Rights Does My Ex Have With Regards to Our Children?
Some of the most frequent comments we receive from you are about keeping contact with your children and the fear of having them taken away by your ex. Here is an indepth answer from our expert legal w...
When, Why and How Can a CSA Decision Be Revised?
This article explains the types of decisions that can be revised, what happens in the event that false information has been given to the CSA, and the procedure, as well as how to appeal a revised deci...
Who Can Apply for Child Support?
Find out here who can apply for child support and whether pre-existing arrangements will have any effect on your application....
Who Has to Pay Child Support?
Paying maintenance is the responsibility of the non resident parent. Child Support does not discriminate between genders and is therefore payable by the father or the mother....
Why Child Maintenance and Enforcement is Necessary
To ensure effective children maintenance arrangements are in place, the Child Maintenance Enforcement Commission (CMEC) follows strict guidelines to enforce financial support from non resident parents...
Why Child Support Was Introduced
The Child Support Agency, or CSA, was established to offer support to lone parents caring for children. This regulated system of collecting maintenance funds from non resident parents has run into som...
Your Legal Rights as a Parent
A parent has the right to determine their child’s name, religion, educational requirements and a number of other important issues. When separation or divorce affects a family however, parents must wor...
Your Top Child Support Questions Answered
We get many comments on this site and many of them address the same issues. We have asked our expert to answer some of your most frequently asked questions indepth here....