Child Maintenance and Travel advice

=booboo=

FatVonD wrote: »

Could you alternate, one visit to your home and new family and the next just you having quality time with your daughter on your own?

Its possible and maybe worth exploring, however this does not amend much of the cost issue im facing once she gets her higher amount.

DS4215

I know its not an ideal solution, but would it be possible to negotiate a different arrangement for childcare, so that instead of getting her for 1 weekend in 3/4 you get half of each school holiday (or saw 2 weeks in the summer) and 1 weekend each term...

You could then get more quality time with your daughter for the same cost in terms of collecting her *and* once you have a set routine with more time at your house you can use that to reduce your maintenance payments for the nights that you have her

=booboo=

Thank you DS, not where i wanted to go as i am very reluctant to miss my daughter at any point, but your point may be vaild and something is going to have to change.. Negotiation is a sore point though, my ex doesnt negotiate, its her way or your being unreasonable / poor father..

Just want to say thank you again to everyone who has contributed, I feel at least i have some options i need to look at now and with the support of my GF, know that things will be ok however they turn out.

silvercar

As stands, on days i collect her, up at 5:30am, i leave at 6am for work, get home by 5pm, leave straight away and generally will be lucky if i get her and get home before midnight. No need to mention how shattered i am on the day i actually have with her. On sunday leaving before lunchtime to return her home. id hope that would qualify?

Do you fell safe doing that much driving?

RAS

=booboo= wrote: »

Firstly, I like my daughter knowing she has a home with me and my new GF (who also has 2 kids), and on the few occasions i have tried to do this, my ex rearranges dates with no notice because she doesnt like the thought of my daughter staying in the same room as my GF. - would just like to add, i have been with my GF for 2 years and she loves my daughter very much!

Do GF's 2 chuildren live with you? If so then a take home salary of £2000 per month would mean your ex gets £240 per month.

Becasue they would deduct 20 percent of your salary as a disregard re the two children in the household.

daska

Yep, you need to speak with your solicitor, ideally one who's on the family and children panels and has sufficient experience to know what they're doing (quality does vary). As I said, the norm is that the NRP is responsible for the costs/travel.

=booboo=

silvercar wrote: »

Do you fell safe doing that much driving?

Honestly, No..

have been involved in 2 car accidents this year alone (neither my fault) but the fact that im still driving that long after waking up is a worry in anyones books surely. Just was left with no other choice.

majdf

My ex moved to Northern Ireland and and I was left responsible for the costs of flights to travel to and from Northern Ireland to see them and fly them back which was costing me an extra £1500 a year
The CSA have a bizarre calculation system for travelling expenses based on the premise that the NRP should pay £15 a week towards travelling (even though I could only afford to see them every six weeks)

So in crude calculation it was worked out as £1500 \ 52 weeks =£28.84 subtract £15 = £13.84 x 52 weeks = £719.68 @ 20% (for 2kids) =£143.93
a year reduction.

And to top it off, you can't claim this together with any other allowance such as reductions based on having them more than 52 nights etc.