Action we can take

We can use a range of powers to get parents to pay. We can take the money direct from their wages . We can also use the courts to claim the money they owe.

 

If the parent has a job the first thing we try is to take the money direct from their wages. This is known as a 'deduction from earnings order'.

We can take up to 40% of the parent's net income to cover their regular child maintenance and contributions towards any payments they have missed,. if child maintenance is still owed after two years.

If the parent gets benefits, pension or a War Pension, we will take the money direct from their benefits or pension. If they are in Her Majesty's Armed Forces and have failed to make their payments, we will send a request to the Ministry of Defence to take the amount owed.

If the parent is self-employed we can still take action through the courts to make them pay.

 

If we can't take money from the non-resident parent's wages we will apply to the courts for a liability order for the missed child maintenance. We will then take legal action to get the money owed.  This can be expensive and can result in the no-resident parent paying more, having their driving licence confiscated or even going to prison.

The legal action we then take depends on where the parent lives.  

More information on:

In certain circumstances we might also be able to take action if the parent lives abroad. If we can't take action we can still tell the parent with care who to get in touch with to take up their case.

More information on Enforcement abroad