child maintenance - paying lump sum in advance

Rejast

My advice would be not to pay in advance. If anything happens and your ex makes a claim to CMS, they are only interested in any payments made between the parents after any application. So in effect you pay 5 years in advance, they make a claim after 6 months and you then have a liability for ongoing payments. 
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/child-maintenance-decision-makers-guide chapters 50 and 60 both outline only payments made after a child maintenance application are considered by CMS

MrsR1234

Do not pay in advance like this. You may not think it will become an issue, but you don't know what will happen down the line. Paying CM for 5 years in a lump sum, isn't necessarily what's best for the child. Once that pot runs out, there would be nothing to stop them from opening a case for more support. 

If you already have a CMS case, any payment you make now on top of your current payments is your choice to do so. If you don't have a case, any payment you make prior to a case opening won't be considered. So there is the potential for you to have to pay 'twice' 

My advice. Don't do it! 

mark_cycling00

Based on experience of colleagues over the years,

Your ex might want a lot of cash now so that: 

They can hire lawyers to get a better divorce and get the whole house or something 
They can leave the country and start again somewhere far far away like Australia 

I wouldn't do it