What's Inside This Guide?
Our child maintenance guide covers:
- How the CMS calculates maintenance The percentage formula based on gross income
- CMS vs private arrangements Pros and cons of each approach
- Shared care reductions How overnight stays affect payment amounts
- Making agreements binding Using Consent Orders for financial security
- What if payments stop Enforcement options through CMS or court
How the CMS Calculates Child Maintenance
The Child Maintenance Service uses a formula based on the paying parent's gross weekly income and the number of children:
• 1 child: 12% of gross weekly income
• 2 children: 16% of gross weekly income
• 3+ children: 19% of gross weekly income
This is reduced if the paying parent has shared care (52+ nights per year) or other children living with them.
- Based on gross income from HMRC data
- Automatic deductions if payments are missed
- Can take 6-8 weeks to set up initially
- Both parents pay collection fees if using Collect & Pay
- Reviewed annually based on income changes
When Private Arrangements Work
If both parents can communicate and trust each other to pay, a private arrangement avoids CMS fees and gives you flexibility to agree amounts that reflect your actual circumstances.
You can agree to pay more than the CMS calculation, include school fees or extras, or structure payments differently. But if trust breaks down, enforcement can be difficult.