Child Maintenance & Benefit ~ How does this work?

[Pippa68]

I have put this is in several sections as I am sure the implications stretch across finance, law & family! My 14 year old stepdaughter has expressed a wish to go into a shared residency situation with us & her mother. She currently lives with her mother full time and comes to stay with us every other weekend. Stepdaughter has now decided she would like to split the time right down the middle...two weeks here, two weeks there ~ with holidays also being equally split. We pay maintenance, but would obviously have to rearrange this if my stepdaughter comes to live with us half the time. I have looked on the CSA website & couldn't find any info other than reference to the 'non resident parent being the one who has the shorter amount of time with the child' How do we go about the financial side..I am not sure if the child support gets cut or done away with altogether ~ and is child benefit split? TIA :o)

[clydeserani]

Hi, I reckon your next move is to go see a lawyer who will be able to sort all this out for you. You could try your local Citizens Advice Bureau who can help out for free before you go spending on Lawyers etc.
Good luck.

[Pippa68]

Thanks :o)

We managed to find out some info on the CSA website after much to and fro..we shall be contacting them first to test the water!

[Le Chat]

Pippa,
The only reason you would need to use the CSA, is if there was disagreement about how much money was needed to support your stepdaughter - and then only if one parent was not willing to pay anything. The role of the CSA is to chase errant parents who do not want to pay support for their child. They are a really badly organised institution and I would avoid them like the plague if you are able. Believe me, they are one step down from useless. Rant over!!
You need to see a family lawyer who will be able to iron out the finer points that you have mentioned.
I have a feeling that the child benefit will still be paid only in one sum and to the same person every month, so you will have to come to an arrangement reagrding this.
Good luck to you and I hope that the two weeks on/off works well for all concerned!

[Pippa68]

Thanks Le Chat :o)

The only reason I mention the CSA is because Mr P lready pays maintenance through them. Obviously if his daughter comes to live with us for two out of four weeks we would have to tell the CSA about it, so that monies would hopefully be reduced.

We have no problems with the issue of maintenance, however I know ex wife is gonna kick up a stink :o(

[TheBaron]

Non-Resident parent � the parent who is not the main day-to-day carer of the children.

If the children stay with both parents, the non-resident parent is the one who spends fewer nights with the children.

If the children spend an equal number of nights with each parent, normally the non-resident parent is the one who is not getting Child Benefit for the children.

[Pippa68]

But which one of us will be the non resident parent?

If residency is going to split right down the middle and my stepdaughter stays with us for half the year surely there isn't a non resident parent?