Child and Spousal Maintenance - what do I put on my SOA?

VeryInTheRed

Hi all,

I am currently under a stamped court consent order for combined Spousal and Child Maintenance - it is a global order and cannot be changed via the CSA.

The order is for £850 pcm. However my ex wife has agreed to temporarily accept £600 while I am in financial difficulties. However I am still legally responsible for the £850 and it will have to go back to that soon. No arrears are building up as agreed in writing between my ex wife and I.

She is aware I am going BR.

On the SOA do I put £850 or £600? The OR will obviously see the payments out of my bank at £600.

£850 and explain why it is currently £600?

Or

£600 and explain that it will soon go up to £850?

Thanks : )

peachyprice

You're legally obliged to pay £850, that's what you'll be paying when the burden of your debts have been dissolved once you're BR, that's what you put on the form. You can give the OR a copy of the court order if you want

TBH, when they look at your banks statements it's for things like gambling or reckless spending, not regular payments . Also, you've been £600 by transfer, but that's not to say you couldn't have been paying the remainder in cash.

VeryInTheRed

Thank you PP : )