breaking a court order

Hi, i have had a consent order for maintenance for the children in place for approx 3yrs now.forthe past 6 months my x has cut the payments by about half .

He was on a very good salary ,and so is his new wife.They have no children , he says he can no longer afford to give me the amount that the court order states.He says i cant do much about it as he no longer earns that amount of money.

i have two jobs but still dont earn a great deal ,and i am now financially struggling.I bought a home on the strength of this money coming in .the court order was to be until the end of tertiary education ,so had several years left. Any advice welcome ,thanks.

Hi fee

I am in a simular situation, but our consent order is just 1 month old. I think once a consent order has gone a year, you cannot take it back to court - but I am sure others know better??

Could you not try the CSA (I havent used them but was considering it) - look on the calculator for the CSA and see what you should get, or contact them for advice.

I did speak to a CSA advisor (before the consent order was granted), re none payment they were very helpful but luckily the consent order came through so I didnt need to follow their track.

I (99% sure) will be off to court soon wit my issue I dont understand my X basically we both had the children & they are both our responsibility - how can you "play" the doting dad but see them go without becase you withold payment??

Life is sad sometimes.

Stay Strong
JJX

Hi,
Many thanks for your reply ,the csa are not an option because the children are at college , and once they are finished with non advanced education ,you cant claim through the csa.

Just think i will have to get in touch with the courts and take it from there.

He has changed so much ,and cant believe he would let us go through the trauma of losing our home .

Many thanks for your advice

ONWARDS AND UPWARDS

Fee

Fee,

Same old, same old, my ex the same, but we plod on!

If you children at college but not at University and are under 19, CSA apply.

Unfortunately, many exes (including mine) agree to something on consent, but then further down the line regret it and do anything they can to stop paying. Its like they are now out of the relationship so begrudge what they agreed to.

My ex told one of my daughters to get "mums boyfriend to pay" for them. What boyfriend????? And even if I had one, they would not be his responsibility.

Sillywoman

I agree wholeheartedly!

It appears my X wants to play the doting dad but not when it comes to £ or responsibility, for that they can "sort themselves out."

X has defaulted on CM, plus Xmas prezzys leaving me holding the bill for both (big bill on the understanidn of payment - me -stupid again!).

It makes me wonder how I could have ever married him in the first place I must have been stupid. But I've got 2 wonderful kids, & am going to take X to court again for an AoE this time.

Took 2 year to get DV (even when I was the respondent), agreed to everything and took all debt for a "not" easy life. & now this - it seems X cannot let it go & wants to get at me whatever way he can - but for what. Its time he got a life and let me get one too.

Rant over good wishes to all & hope I dont offend
JJX

My ex stopped paying sm when he met and moved in with (same day or one after!). Reason? cos he hated me! Anyway, I offered to reduce the amount for a while if he was having it hard, but no, he wasn't having any of it!

No choice but to take him to court, like fee I needed it for mortgage and it was only till youngest 18 (3 more years). Magistrates took short shrift with him and of course I got it.

So, next game was with child maintenance so went to csa. Yes he mucked them about but have had it for the last couple of months.

No xmas pressies this year, no card, nothing for one daughter's birthday, oh and cancelled their mobile (cheap) phone contracts! He doesn't see them either.

New woman on the scene equals new rules!

Do I care - no, do the kids - not any more - really only one loser - him.

Very sorry you have had problems .i JUST DONT GET IT .....how much grief do they have to create.i dont and never have had spousal maintenance.although i gave up work too raise the family,no pension etc.etc. so he knows i really rely on the cash from the maintenance.
Do i not have a leg too stand on here?...OR AM I ABLE TOO GET THE ARREARS BACK ?
thanks for your help
Fee