Self employed and getting out of child maintenance

[Lillylou]

hello does anybody have any advice on how I can get my ex partner to pay maintenance? He is self employed and doesn’t declare his earnings. I am struggling financially and it’s really unjust the money is for our child and I am having to cut back and the child is missing out.

[Empty]

Give these a go:

Support with any parenting problem: Family Lives 24 hour FREE helpline 0808 800 2222 http://familylives.org.uk

Separation disputes: http://www.sortingoutseparation.org.uk

Good luck.

 

[myname]

My son’s father is self employed as well, and I have no idea of what his actual earnings are. I basically just nagged and nagged about it by email until he eventually agreed to send £185 a month, he often complains about it but I just ignore it. I don’t know if I should be able to get more, but at least it is something I guess.

My only advice is keep nagging him, what have you got to lose? It is hard to go through CMS because he is self employed and that always put me off that option.

[Traveller123]

To LillyLou,

CMS and self employed are a nightmare.  So many examples of Self Employed declaring very small earnings, but living lifestyles that are impossible to fund on such earnings.  Until the Lifestyle and assets Grounds for Variations are re-introduced I can’t see a way forward.

 

[Lillylou]

My ex was paying £20 a week which is rubbish I went to CMS for more and he got a nil award and hasn’t paid anything since. He is wealthy and is taking my through courts for more access. He told me he has more money then I will ever have and has stopped maintenance and is costing me a bump in courts. I also am just about to have to pay for childcare so I can go back to work. He says he earns less then £7 a week how can he actually look after a child on that amount of money???

[Traveller123]

To Lillylou,

Maybe one solution is to let your ex be main Parent with Care, but you have access to fit in with your work?  Then he will have to stump all costs associated with raising the child.  Downside to that could be that ex may be entitled to Child Benefit and Child Tax Credits that you may receive at moment?

Self employed is a nightmare and CMS do not seem to be able to do anything about it.  Even under the old CSA system when Assets and Lifestyle Variations were allowed the burden of proof was on the parent seeking maintenance as CSA were not an investigative service.

 

[Author]

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