Child Maintenance obligations may continue even when the paying parent is living and working overseas. As the rules can be complicated, expert advice is highly recommended.
Guidance Through Every Step
A child maintenance application can only be accepted when the Receiving Parent, the Qualifying Child(ren), and the Paying Parent are all considered habitually resident in the UK.
While the Receiving Parent and Qualifying Child(ren) must live in the UK, the rules for Paying Parents are more complex.
A Paying Parent who lives or works abroad may still be treated as ‘habitually resident’ for child maintenance purposes if certain conditions apply, for example, if they are employed by a UK‑based company or maintain a home in the UK.
If a Paying Parent is assessed as not habitually resident in the UK, the Child Maintenance Service has no jurisdiction to calculate maintenance. In these cases, Receiving Parents may need to seek legal advice about pursuing child maintenance through the REMO (Reciprocal Enforcement of Maintenance Orders) agreement.
Habitual residence decisions can significantly influence child maintenance outcomes.
NACSA supports both Paying and Receiving Parents in navigating these complex rules, offering tailored guidance specific to your circumstances.
