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16 March 2007 / Kim Fellowes
Issue: 7264 / Categories: Features , Child law , Family , Ancillary relief
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Could do better

Kim Fellowes discusses common problems in the child support system and offers some practical solutions

The process of recovering unpaid child support is here to stay, in one form or another. The two current systems introduced under the Child Support Act 1991 (CSA 1991) and the Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Act 2000 (CSPSSA 2000) will continue until the new organisation, the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission (C-MEC) replaces the Child Support Agency (CSA). The anticipated final transition of existing cases to C-MEC is not until 2013. As such, family lawyers ignore at their peril child support issues that arise in respect of their caseload.

The assessment stage

In child support cases, the financial disclosure requested from a non-resident parent (NRP) is wholly inadequate, compared with the full and frank disclosure provided in the court process. There is an additional problem as the disclosure provided by one party is not provided to the other, which means the parent with care (PWC) has little opportunity to ascertain if the information used by

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

DAC Beachcroft—Paul Brehony

DAC Beachcroft—Paul Brehony

Commercial disputes practice expands with partner hire in London

Ward Hadaway—Maria Coster

Ward Hadaway—Maria Coster

Partner appointed to lead family and matrimonial department in Leeds

Slater Heelis—Helen Marsh

Slater Heelis—Helen Marsh

Commercial property team expands in Manchester with partner appointment

NEWS
SRM Recruitment has been announced as the headline sponsor of the Law Society RFC Festival of Sport 2026, which will take place on 20 September at Richmond Athletic Association. The specialist legal search firm joins the event as organisers prepare to welcome more than 110 teams across five sports, including rugby sevens, netball and five-a-side football
The civil justice landscape could be heading for a shake-up, with reform of the Solicitors Act 1974 gathering pace
Global mobility is transforming family law, creating new challenges around jurisdiction, assets and child arrangements
A series of procedural developments could have significant practical consequences for litigators. Writing in NLJ this week, columnist Stephen Gold highlights important updates ranging from digital court reforms to family procedure and admissions of liability
As family structures evolve, the law may face difficult questions about inheritance rights for those in polyamorous relationships
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