Family Law News Edinburgh

For advice on all aspects of family law, please contact us today.

Parents happier with family-based arrangements

New research shows separated parents who work out their own child maintenance arrangements are more satisfied with their set-up than those using the Child Support Agency (CSA).

 

Recent figures reveal more than two thirds of parents with a family-based arrangement said they were happy with their situation. Only a third of CSA clients said they felt the same.


Almost 90% of non-resident parents complied with their own arrangements, compared with just under two thirds of those who had payments assessed and enforced by the CSA. Most parents (74%) considered family-based arrangements to be fairer than those calculated and enforced by the state system (42%).


The survey was based on telephone interviews with just over 2000 parents who had contact with the Child Maintenance Options information and support service between July 2008 and January 2010.


Respondent on benefits (88% of whom had no arrangement) and those on incomes of less than £9,000 per annum (37% with no arrangement) were much more likely than other groups to have no child maintenance arrangement at all. The most common reasons given were; not wanting any contact with the other parent, ignorance of their whereabouts or a history of domestic violence.


The Government wants to see all separated parents get help to sort out and maintain child maintenance arrangements themselves, instead of using the CSA as the default option. With CSA clients less likely to have regular contact with the other parent, the research suggests that many of these families would benefit from some support with their relationships.

 

Young couples avoid marriage because they fear div...
Relationship breakdown peak expected in January

Related Posts

Enquire now

Invalid Input
Invalid Input
Invalid Input
Invalid Input
Invalid Input

Please tick the box below

Invalid Input

nla