Single Parents

[sammy_jo]

Hey,

What rights do single fathers have if the mother is earning money but doesn't help to pay for their two children?

My friends father struggles to pay for everything and his mum and her boyfriend have jobs but don't pay for anything. Any advice would be a great help.

Thanks :)

[EDDIE51]

If the father does not have the children living with him he has to pay the maintainance that has been agreed . As long as he does that he is doing all he legally has to.

[chelle7272]

If he has custody she should be paying maintenance.

[maggiebee]

If the father has custody of the children then the mother should be paying towards their maintenance.

[EDDIE51]

Yes, maintenance applies both ways ( not clear from the question who has the children living with them) if the children live with the father the mother has to pay maintenance.

[ojread2]

OP, who has the children living with them?

I would find it hard to believe that if it is the mother and boyfriend, that the father pays for *everything* or vice versa

Why should he not, though, pay a decent amount of maintenance?

[tonywiltshire]

The law is unisex and both parents are responsible for the child or children, if either one is not paying or supporting the child a claim should be made to the Child support agency.

[ojread2]

We'll never know anyway
The op is a post and run kinda gal

[mightyWBA]

My Daughter lives with me and has done since her Mother left nearly 6 years ago (she left me for somebody else).
Not only did I have to pay her half the value of our house, so I could remain in it with our child, I have never received a single penny off her in maintenance.
No one ever told me I could claim off her.

[ojread2]

No one told you?
Could you not find out for yourself then?
That aside, the mother should have paid you voluntarily - go claim it now!

[mightyWBA]

Never crossed my mind oj,thinking of how much money I could make out of the situation was never in my thoughts at the time.