Child Maintenance Service (UK)

The Child Maintenance Service (CMS) in the UK helps ensure parents who live apart share the financial responsibility for their children. It primarily involves the parent who doesn’t live with the child paying a regular amount to support their upbringing. The CMS calculates payments based on the paying parent’s income and circumstances, and it can also collect and transfer payments directly to the receiving parent if agreed. The service promotes the child's well-being by encouraging fair and consistent financial support, and it offers support to both parents to manage arrangements effectively.