Some advice on child maintenance please?

Katykat

My son & wife are separating ( amicably, up to now) They have 3 children He works full time , she works 24 hrs. They have agreed to have the children 50/50. He is giving her 55% of the house sale equity plus he is loaning her enough for a house deposit which she has agreed to repay.  He has had conflicting advice about child maintenance. The CMS site says he has to pay a set amount. Other sites say he doesn’t have to pay anything as he will have the children 50% of the time. They will need help with childcare during school holidays from grandparents but this has always been the case. Is there any clarity?

Comms69

He's only obliged to pay if she makes a claim. The system is catching up recently to joint care; but as it currently stands he would pay 9.5% of his gross salary.

ZaSa1418

He would be liable to pay if she is in receipt of the child benefit and she applies for maintenance. If she doesn't mention it then tell him to keep quiet. 

Katykat

Comms69 said:

He's only obliged to pay if she makes a claim. The system is catching up recently to joint care; but as it currently stands he would pay 9.5% of his gross salary.

Is that per child?

Aranyani

Is he planning to pay 50% of things like clothes, shoes, school supplies, swimming lessons, clubs etc?

Comms69

Katykat said:

Comms69 said:

He's only obliged to pay if she makes a claim. The system is catching up recently to joint care; but as it currently stands he would pay 9.5% of his gross salary.

Is that per child?

No that's total.

celblog88

As far as I understand it if it's 50/50 custody neither party owes maintenance to the other. When you go onto Child Maintenance Service website it mentions how much is taken off assessed amount based on number of nights the children spend with the paying parent up to a maximum of 50%, however if it can be proven that day to day care and contributions are made by each respective parent maintenance can and should be stopped. I've heard stories where resident parent has refused to agree to 50/50 on basis that it'll leave them short. It's about what's best for the children after all.