Child Maintenance Issue

[Ide1]

I have a partner with a daughter of 17.
After she was born, his ex (her mother) refused any contact with my partner and he was unable to see her until she (his daughter) made contact with him aged 10. He had tried to establish contact over the 10 years.
He was never named on the birth certificate but was allowed to see her on & off for the last 5 years and she has never suffered financially by him.
His daughter has virtually disowned him after a huge argument in Dec 2010. He has not seen her since but she is now asking him for regular monthly payments or threatening him with the CSA. Anyone any ideas where we stand on this?

[RATTER15]

Has he ever been paying maintenance for this child?

[RATTER15]

If child is no longer in full time education he wont be liable anyway.

[arwyn]

I'm sure it stops when the Child is 17 years old.

[RATTER15]

It stoips at the age of 16 I think but it can continue while the child is in full time education.

[Ide1]

He has never paid maintenance although has offered to. His ex simply wanted him to have nothing to do with his daughter and cut all contact, even moving after his daughter was born so he could not trace her. She is still in full-time education until this September. We are going to have to seek legal advice over this but really concerned that the CSA will force him to pay arrears since her birth. Thank you for responding all.

[RATTER15]

CSA, cannot do that!! I found out from a similar case I was involved in, unless the CSA have being pursuing you and they can prove it they can only ask for a maximum of 6 months to be back-dated.

If they do contact him, he must write to them and ask for a copy of all correspondence they have sent him, they have to provide this info by law. This will be required if it goes to Court, I don't think they will bother to be honest, by the time this has got into the system he will longer be required to pay due to his son bin no longer in full time employment.

[Ide1]

Thank you Ratter! Your advice has been really appreciated and a lot more reassuring.

[smoochiegal]

The CSA only make payments to the first point of contact. They only make u pay arrears when you're signed up with them and have failed to pay. I lost contact with my ex and they said because they didn't know he was working from April last yr until present that they would only take the money from when they found out in Jan. They're ridiculous. In your case I think that it is 18 or when leaving f/t education, whichever comes first. They would have to prove that he is the biological father if they wanted to force him into paying by which time it all comes out she would be 18 anyway.

[murraymints]

all of the above...as at 18 no longer a child and if left school and working then no chance....