Maintenance payments

tucker1971

I pay maintenance for my 10yr old daughter of €65 per week. Have done since she was a year old. I was never married to the mother, and I also have the child stay with me for 3 nights a week.
I also give half of the cost for Christmas, birthdays, etc. I have my child involved in a local club and I have paid all the fees here.
Recently the childs mother has been asking for "extra" money, i.e to pay for swimming classes or maybe new clothes she bought for the child.

Now as I pay her €65 weekly and maintain the child half the week myself, I think I am in my right to tell her to **** off!

The agreement was legally enforced either, I just pay the amount of my own free will, and have never missed a payment in 9 years.

Any comments welcomed, thanks.

Peregrinus

Can't really comment meaningfully, since what's appropriate entirely depends on your income and assets, the mother's income and assets, and the style of life which the child might reasonably expect, given her parents means and situation in life, none of which you have said anything about. Nor do we know what other dependents you and the child's mother may have.

Even if you disclose all this at length, you're still not likely to get much in the way of useful advice on an internet forum. It might be worth your while (and money) to talk to an experienced family law practitioner about the range of maintenance that would usually be agreed or awarded for parents in your circumstances in cases that come before the courts. I realize this case hasn't come before the courts, but that would give you a baseline to work from.

I do note, though, that you suggest that the level of maintenance you pay hasn't increased in ten years. If the present level was appropriate for a 1-year old nine years ago, then there's a sporting chance that its on the low side for a 10-year old today.

tucker1971

Peregrinus wrote: »

Can't really comment meaningfully, since what's appropriate entirely depends on your income and assets, the mother's income and assets, and the style of life which the child might reasonably expect, given her parents means and situation in life, none of which you have said anything about. Nor do we know what other dependents you and the child's mother may have.

Even if you disclose all this at length, you're still not likely to get much in the way of useful advice on an internet forum. It might be worth your while (and money) to talk to an experienced family law practitioner about the range of maintenance that would usually be agreed or awarded for parents in your circumstances in cases that come before the courts. I realize this case hasn't come before the courts, but that would give you a baseline to work from.

I do note, though, that you suggest that the level of maintenance you pay hasn't increased in ten years. If the present level was appropriate for a 1-year old nine years ago, then there's a sporting chance that its on the low side for a 10-year old today.

I think my payment fair enough as I have now two other dependents, am also married, and my take home income is less than my ex-partners.

As my ex partner has single parent allowance, 3 days employment, and my weekly payment, together with everything else.

Peregrinus

tucker1971 wrote: »

I think my payment fair enough . . .

And you may well be right. But the question you need answered is not whether you think it's fair, but whether a court would think it was fair and, for that, I really think you're going to have to talk in a bit of detail with an experienced practitioner.