Child maintenance

[stunner1901]

Hi

Just looking for some advice re child maintenance payments

my son has had a nightmare relationship which has left him with a 4 yr old daughter

his Ex is constantly badgering him for money both for maintenance and schooling fees.

Question 1 is if he pays maintenance can she also ask for school fees (pre school)?

Question 2 is does he legally have to pay money to his ex or can he open a bank account that he can pay into and make his ex ask him to get things for his daughter from this money?

reason for asking Q2 is his ex spends all her money on going out and drinks drugs etc.,

I want to try and ensure his money is actually used for his daughter

thanks in advance for any advice

[stunner1901]

Re: Child maintenance

Sorry to nag but can anyone help with this please???

thanks

[Kati]

Re: Child maintenance

[MENTION=6]Amethyst[/MENTION]?? Any ideas??

[Amethyst]

Re: Child maintenance

School fees shouldn't be much of an issue in a years time presumably so that's a short term thing. He could make a contribution to the school fees direct to the school if he wanted to - sort out with his ex how much she is struggling to pay and what isn't covered by childcare vouchers and he can deal with that direct with the nursery( if he wanted to) but he doesn't have to, it's covered with the child maintenance calculations.

Child Maintenance would go to the child's mother. It can be used as she wishes - she'll have other income as well, from work/benefits etc, and child benefit, and she can chose to spend that as she needs - rent/bills/council tax/food/clothing/decor/going out/treats etc. It is meant to contribute to living, not for specific 'items' and if she took it through the Child maintenance service it would be paid to her to use as she deems fit ( including childcare fees etc ) - he can do a calculation here - https://www.gov.uk/calculate-your-child-maintenance - to see what the minimum he can pay would be. It is of course better to come to an arrangement direct between parties as then there isn't money lost in fees which could be benefiting the child.