How much should I pay?

Honey_B

Hi - I'm just separating from my partner (we're not married) of 10+ years and I hope someone can give me some advice on child maintenance/spousal support (or is it maintenance?) etc.

The basic facts: we have one son (7) (I have another (17) from my previous relationship). We are both in full time employment and earn roughly the same (£35,000 p/a), We are selling our house and splitting the profits - because she paid more into the purchase, she'll get more than me (about £350,000/£175,000). She will probably buy a house outright with that money but I will need a mortgage. Our son will live with her but will spend some weekends with me and he will be attending a local state primary school so there will be no school fees (but there will be afterschool/holiday club expenses).

I've agreed to pay her a reasonable amount but she thinks she's entitled to over £1,000/month. This seems very high, especially when I saw that the CSA calculates the amount at something like 15% of earnings.

Can anyone give me any advice?:beer:

catenorfolk

it will be 15% of net earnings as per the csa site

ladymarmalade222

Hi

My ex is on approximately 40k and I receive 250 per month for one seven year old which I think is reasonable as he has his own life now and has living costs of his own.

IMO 1000 pm is way over the odds and I am sure many would agree.

Kind Regards.

Loopy_Girl

As already said, it is 15% of net wage.

You also deduct 1/7 of the amount for each night your son is staying with you.

Lets just say for arguments sake that you should pay £700pw but your son stays a Fri and Sat.

2 nights = 2/7 deduction from amount due

So you would pay £500

Of course that figure is pulled out the air! You need to work it out for yourself. Work it out and then tell her that is the figure you are giving her - no more and no less. If she's not happy then you can tell her to go to the CSA where all that will happen is that they will tell her the same - but months dragging behind your offer!

Honey_B

Wow - thanks for all the quick, helpful and reassuring replies!

I've heard of something called "spousal support" - would I have to pay that too? Also, is the CSA figure the legal maximum I would have to pay? I'm prepared to pay more than the 15% but nothing like £1000. Can she get a higher amount by going to court or claiming some of my assets? This is all new to me, I'm afraid...

Donedoingdebt

The maximum amount the CSA can charge for 1 child is 15% of net income, minus any overnight stay allowances as explained by Loopy Girl.

This is due to change to a new system in the future, where the NRP will be required to pay 12% of gross income.

However, if there are any arrears built up on the account, I believe they can take up to 40% of net income.

Spousal maintenance is nothing to do with the CSA & will not affect the amount of child maintenance that has to be paid. That will have to be decided between the 2 of you although I'm not sure of the legal issues with not having been married.

If you'd been married, spousal maintenance could have been decided either privately between the 2 of you or by a court if you couldn't agree.

Honey_B

Thanks - I've read the stories in the papers about ex-partners/wives being awarded huge sums by courts and that worries me (not that I HAVE huge sums to start with!).

custardy

i have to ask what she thinks she needs £1k a month for
given you are on roughly the same income thats £2k a month for 1 child!!!

withabix

You're not married, so no spousal maintenance to pay. In any case, she earns the same as you, so why should there be any?

15% CSA less 1/7 if it was every other weekend. Not a penny more and maybe a bit less if your 17 year old is still at school.

kelloggs36

Assuming you earn 35k per year, and you pay nothing into a pension, your monthly payments with NO shared care would be about £325.

DUTR

Gosh! I'm shocked at the replies but yes 15% net max, you will be paying around £65 per week or less .