Separation and money/child maintenance.

Mollie_Guinness15

Me and my wife have decided to part company, though we're both still living in the same house.
My wife is a stay at home mum and mine is the only source of income which is reasonable but by no means large and we have to watch the pennies most months, especially if the car needs fixing!
She has just asked me when am I going to start paying child maintenance - my though on this would be when they move out and we're independent of each other, as at the moment I pay for everything anyway.
Does anyone know the legal position on this - I'm happy to pay whatever is needed to support my child, but I think doing it while still in the same house is going to be tricky.
Thanks to anyone who can help.

tom9980

Why should she be the one to move and not you? Is there a good reason?

Given you are already paying for everything I think you are mostly correct that the situation cannot resolve until you live separately.

Mollie_Guinness15

She wants to move nearer to her parents.
Thanks, for confirming that.

enginesuck

You don't have to pay child maintenance if you live in the same house and I assume you are still feeding everyone (Or at least paying for the food etc) And are still being a parent !


HMRC has a good calculator to work out how much you will be paying when you live in separate households, it will depend on how much you have your kids over to stay per week.


Now would be a good time to see how you will afford those payments and still live in your current property whether it is rented or Mortgaged etc.

TBagpuss

Yes, you would start to pay once you are no longer living in the same property.