Child choosing to move away - what happens now?

Skintski

Hi All

Bit confused. My partners 17 year old daughter who is due to start college in September in the town where her Mum lives has now decided that against our wishes she is going to move in with the boyfriend and his Mum and go to college in a different town instead.


My partner and his ex have an agreement where he transfers her money every month and she also claims child benefit. Since the child won’t be living with either of us anymore and has taken the adult decision to move out, what happens next please?

Is the boyfriends Mum able to put in claims for child benefit and maintenance from one/both parents? Both my partner and his ex are desperate for the daughter to stay living where she is. This has all been sprung on us by the daughter and there had been no contact with boyfriends mum whatsoever so we are all a bit baffled.

Thank you.

Comms69

Child benefit yes, maintenance no.

Skintski

Would you mind explaining a little more for me please? Would she not count as the daughters carer if she is in full time education?

Thanks

HoneyNutLoop

They can claim child maintenance from you both, yes.

https://www.gov.uk/child-maintenance/eligibility

In this circumstance, they would be classed as the child’s guardian.

Skintski

HoneyNutLoop wrote: »

They can claim child maintenance from you both, yes.

https://www.gov.uk/child-maintenance/eligibility

In this circumstance, they would be classed as the child’s guardian.

Thank you. It seems crazy that they’re forced to essentially pay a stranger when there are two loving homes on offer with the parents.

Mnd

But if she's not eating your food and burning your electricity, then if payment is due, who should get the money

Skintski

What I meant was she should be at home with one or the other of the parents, not going to live with someone she’s known for about five minutes.

They’d almost be better off letting her make her own way since she’s decided she’s old enough to make adult decisions and putting the maintenance money into trust for her. It’s a shame that’s not how it works ��

BAFE

They would have to take you to court for child maintenance and as this is a long drawn out process your child would probably be 18 by then anyway.

HoneyNutLoop

They do not have to take the parents to court. They can just put an application in to CMS. And if she stays in full time non advanced education, maintenance can be payable until 20.