Regardless of who your child/children live with, they are entitled to receive financial support from their parents. If sought, there are three ways in which financial support for the care of the children can be arranged between the parents.

The first method is via an assessment which is conducted by the Child Support Agency. It is an enforceable assessment made by a Child Support Registrar, which takes into account the number of children, both parents' income and several other factors. The assessment is reviewable where there is a change in circumstances, or challengeable in certain circumstances.

The second method is a child support agreement. A binding or limited child support agreement is an agreement between the parties which can replace a Child Support Assessment. They also result in enforceable periodic and non-period payments however are changeable by agreement or where set aside by the court. In the case of a limited child support agreement, they are also terminatable after three years by either party.

The third method is an informal agreement where the parties informally agree on the provision of financial support from one party to the other. This method is built solely on mutual trust and the payments are unenforceable so will generally only be successful if you are on amicable terms.

If you wish to be guided through the process of obtaining or providing child support or challenging or changing a child support assessment or agreement please do not hesitate to contact our office to discuss your options.