What is child maintenance?

Both parents are legally responsible for the financial costs of bringing up their children. The parents do not need to have been married or in a civil partnership and the father’s name does not need to be on the child’s birth certificate.

Child maintenance is normally paid if the parent who looks after the child receives Child Benefit for them. This benefit can be received up until your child is 20. Find out more about Child Benefit.

The amount of child maintenance paid can be decided by the parents, through a solicitor, or through the Child Maintenance Service.