Child Maintenance Service

The Child Maintenance Service (CMS) is a government program in the UK that helps separated or divorced parents arrange financial support for their children. It ensures that non-residential parents contribute to the upbringing costs of their children, either through private agreements or by calculating payments through CMS. The service provides guidelines on how much the paying parent should contribute based on their income and the child's needs. CMS plays a role in enforcing payments when necessary, helping to ensure that children receive the financial support they need from both parents, regardless of their living arrangements.