Seperation & maintenance advice

Korkyb

Hi

Looking as though marraige is headed for rocks but likely to be reasonably amicable split (as much as they can be).

Just trying to figure out the financial position I, as the Father in this saga, would find myself in.

Maintenance for our 2 children seems to be simple enough to work out using the CSA calculator.

What else might I be expected to pay on top i.e. any maintenance to my wife.

Is there a simple way of working all this out?

Prudent

Is your wife working? If she is, it is unlikely you will have to apy maintenance to her.

Bossyboots

These days, "clean break" settlements are preferred and spousal maintenance is the exception rather than the norm.

However, each case is taken on its own merits and if you earn sufficient to provide for your wife and she is not in a position to work or has low earnings potential (if your children are young for example) then it might be appropriate in your case for you to pay maintenance. Or it might just be appropriate for you to continue to (for example) pay the mortgage but not live at the property.

If your children are older, then your wife would be expected to work to support herself unless there are extenuating reasons why she shouldn't. If you are well off and she cannot earn anywhere near as much as you, then again you would be expected to pay towards her support. The preferred way of doing this though is by way of cash lump sum, thus effecting the clean break settlement.

You need to work out what you can both earn/afford to do, and try to come to an agreement on the finances that is fair to you both.

Becles

Just from personal experience, a clean break works well. It means neither party is dependent on the other one, and you can both move on with life.

Korkyb

Cheers for quick answers.

We are both in very similar jobs with similar earning potential.

She would almost certainly have to change the hours she works to make childcare work & which would obviously impact on her income. (Children are 6 & 4).

Bossyboots

Then I would say you could perhaps contribute a bit more child maintenance to help out with that although I think I would be inclined to make this on the basis of you buying things they need rather than hand over extra money. That way you know the money is going to the children. If she uses a child minder, perhaps you could offer to pay x amount of hours on top of what the CSA calculation is.

Thats something you would need to work out between you and I only suggest it for your children's welfare, rather than your wife's as any drop in income will impact on them.