Understanding the Child Maintenance Service

The Child Maintenance Service provides a structured framework for calculating, collecting and enforcing child maintenance where parents are unable to agree.

For many parents, understanding how maintenance is assessed can feel complex, but the government provides a practical starting point through its online calculator – Calculate your child maintenance – GOV.UK.

The CMS calculation is primarily based on the paying parent’s gross weekly income. This information is usually sourced from HMRC.

The standard rates are 12% for one child, 15% for two children and 19% for three or more children. These figures may be adjusted in certain circumstances to reflect overnight stays the child/ren has with the paying parent and whether there are other children to support.

The online calculator provides an estimate of the amount of child maintenance that may be payable. It can be a valuable tool for parents considering the arrangements going forward and enable discussions with a clearer understanding of what may be determined by the Child Maintenance Service in a formal assessment.

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