Child maintenance
Where parents live apart, child maintenance is the regular financial support paid by the parent who is not living with the children to the parent who is the main day to day carer.
The Government believes that families themselves are best placed to determine what arrangements will work best for them. Evidence suggests that this is better for the children affected.
The Government wants to encourage and support parents to:
- fulfil their responsibilities as parents by continuing their involvement in their children’s lives and through paying child maintenance
- make family-based arrangements wherever possible rather than relying on government services to step in and administer arrangements
We are seeking views on our strategy for reforming the child maintenance system. The strategy is based on the principle of empowering parents to take responsibility for their children and families.
The consultation runs from 13 January 2011 until 7 April 2011.
The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission
The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission, a Crown non departmental public body, is responsible for child maintenance in Great Britain, including the functions of the Child Support Agency (CSA). The Commission seeks to ensure that all parents who live apart put in place effective arrangements to maintain their children, whether these are family based, through the courts or through the CSA.
