child support Solicitors

Child support in the UK (often referred to as “child maintenance”) ensures children receive the financial support they need when parents separate or divorce. The legal framework aims to make sure both parents contribute, based on their income and the child’s needs, providing stability and covering essentials such as housing, food, and education costs.

Michela Hughes

London EC4V 5EF

child support Solicitors London

26 years of experience

Does not accept legal aid

Michela Hughes is the matrimonial and family partner at SBP Law. Her areas of practice include: - Divorce; - Financial claims arising from divorce; - Children Act (with a particular focus on international relocation); - Separation agreements; -...

Anne Shears

Plymouth PL4 9BD

child support Solicitors Plymouth

18 years of experience

Accepts legal aid in child support

I qualified in 2007 and have practised family law in Plymouth since 2009. I joined Nash & Co in January 2017 and specialise in divorce cases and in resolving financial matters that arise from the breakdown of a...

Lusine Navasardyan

London WC2B 9RZ

child support Solicitors London

6 years of experience

Does not accept legal aid

I am a solicitor of England and Wales, as well as a qualified advocate with Bucharest Bar. I am currently practising as a lawyer specialising in all areas of nationality and Immigration law, with particular emphasis on business...

Joanne Gilholm

Hampshire PO16 7BL

child support Solicitors Hampshire

26 years of experience

Accepts legal aid in child support

I specialise in all aspects of family law, and my expertise embraces all aspects of marital and relationship breakdown. I advise on the financial issues following a separation and where children are involved. I deal with the often...

Yen Truong

Kent TN4 8BG

child support Solicitors Kent

7 years of experience

Does not accept legal aid

I founded my own law firm in order to provide a more personal service to clients, with an ethos to support them in every way possible, and to achieve the optimum solution for their issues. Being able to...

Chris BARBER

Cardiff CF10 3RS

child support Solicitors Cardiff

14 years of experience

Accepts legal aid in child support

Chris studied Law and French at Cardiff University, his LPC at Bristol and qualified with Robertsons in 2011. He deals with family matters including cohabitation, divorce and children disputes. He also undertakes extensive work in civil litigation disputes...

Raj Nair

Preston PR4 0LW

child support Solicitors Preston

26 years of experience

Does not accept legal aid

Long established professional in leading areas of law

Ekra Afzal

Halifax HX1 2QR

child support Solicitors Halifax

9 years of experience

Does not accept legal aid

I have dealt with over 300 Immigration files whilst working in the immigration field, 350 Criminal Injuries and Personal Injuries files.

Nicola Palfrey

London W6 7PJ

child support Solicitors London

19 years of experience

Accepts legal aid in child support

We are a firm of dynamic individuals each with a wealth of legal experience and skills. We have been offering a thorough and high quality service of advice and representation to our many satisfied clients since 2010 and...

David Smith

Birmingham B14 7DY

child support Solicitors Birmingham

11 years of experience

Does not accept legal aid

I joined Glover Priest in May 2019 having previously spent several years working as a family solicitor for Legal 500-ranked regional firms. I have a wealth of experience as a solicitor and deal with the full range of...

Sabeena Din

Leeds LS7 3PD

child support Solicitors Leeds

16 years of experience

Does not accept legal aid

Sabeena is a member of resolution which means she follows the code of practice that promotes a non-confrontational approach to family problems. She is also a Pro bono Supervised Solicitor with the BPP Law School in Leeds. With...

Sylvia Haigh

Cambridge CB4 0WS

child support Solicitors Cambridge

29 years of experience

Does not accept legal aid

Sylvia is a specialist family solicitor who advises on all aspects of family law from divorce to financial settlements and children issues. Sylvia is a collaborative lawyer and member of Resolution, the association of family lawyers committed to...

Ben Bradshaw

East Sussex BN21 4PX

child support Solicitors East Sussex

7 years of experience

Accepts legal aid in child support

Ben Bradshaw is an Associate Solicitor in our Family Law Department and can deal with a wide range of family law matters including private children disputes, divorce and financial settlements as well as post or pre-nuptial agreements. Ben...

David WINNETT

Nottingham NG1 5BS

child support Solicitors Nottingham

29 years of experience

Does not accept legal aid

I qualified in 1996 and joined Hopkins in 2002. I am a Partner in the Family Law Team, based in the Regent Street office in Nottingham City Centre. I am a pioneer of Collaborative Family Law, a non-confrontational...

Faizza Abla

Luton LU1 2BD

child support Solicitors Luton

18 years of experience

Does not accept legal aid

Our firm focuses on developing innovative resolutions for every case. We take into account every circumstance and event with due diligence in order to adapt to the needs of clients.We take pride in exceeding the expectations of clients’...

What should I know about child support in the UK?

Child Maintenance Service (CMS): This government body calculates maintenance rates and can enforce payments if a voluntary agreement can’t be reached.
Calculation factors: Maintenance is usually based on the paying parent’s gross weekly income, the number of children, and how often the children stay overnight.
Private agreements: Some parents opt for a family-based arrangement, agreeing on amounts themselves without involving the CMS.
Enforcement powers: If payments are missed, the CMS can take direct action against earnings, bank accounts, or property.
Review and changes: Maintenance can be recalculated if circumstances change significantly—such as a new job, reduced income, or additional children to support.

How can a solicitor help with child support, and what does it cost?

A family solicitor can assist in a variety of situations, including:

Disputing CMS calculations: If you believe the Child Maintenance Service has miscalculated your payments or income level.
Seeking variations: Requesting changes to maintenance when there are special expenses or a significant change in circumstances (e.g., sudden job loss or high childcare costs).
Enforcing arrears: Taking legal action if the paying parent falls behind on child support, which may involve court applications or collaboration with the CMS.
Resolving complex financial arrangements: Addressing high-net-worth cases, self-employed income, or international maintenance issues.
Negotiating private agreements: Drafting legally sound, family-based arrangements that reflect both parents’ financial realities and the child’s best interests.

Costs typically depend on how complicated the matter is and the solicitor’s experience. Hourly rates often range from £150–£300, with some firms offering fixed-fee packages for straightforward cases. An initial consultation—sometimes free or at a reduced rate—can clarify your options, estimated fees, and the best steps to secure the right support for your child.

Helen Boynton

Wigan WN6 0HQ

child support Solicitors Wigan

28 years of experience

Does not accept legal aid

I joined Pilgrim Hope Solicitors as a Consultant Family Lawyer in 2019. I qualified as a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives in 1997 and I have specialised in the area of matrimonial and family law...

Amanda Rimmer

Wigan WN3 5BA

child support Solicitors Wigan

32 years of experience

Does not accept legal aid

I am a Partner in the family law team at Stephensons. I joined Stephensons in 1992 and have specialised in family law ever since. Separation and family disputes can bring a variety of situations which require careful management,...

Angela Lally

Leeds LS25 5BQ

child support Solicitors Leeds

23 years of experience

Does not accept legal aid

I have been qualified as a solicitor since 2002, specialising in all areas of family law. For the last 10 years I have focused my practice on matrimonial finances, which has enabled me to build a niche case...

Gavin Henshaw

Buckinghamshire HP9 1NZ

child support Solicitors Buckinghamshire

22 years of experience

Does not accept legal aid

I specialise in all areas of Family Law and believe in resolving family disagreements in the most cost effective and non adversarial way possible. I'm Head of Family Law at Lennons Solicitors, an established Buckinghamshire-based law firm that...

Angela Shropshall-Clark

Paignton TQ4 6LE

child support Solicitors Paignton

Does not accept legal aid

Liz Dumbleton

Kent TN12 0AP

child support Solicitors Kent

26 years of experience

Does not accept legal aid

Liz joined the firm in December 2001 as an Assistant Solicitor, became Partner in May 2002 and in November 2007 became Senior Partner. Liz has overall responsibility for the firm and each of the firm’s departments, having extensive...

Jacqueline MCCAULAY

Surrey SM3 9AA

child support Solicitors Surrey

24 years of experience

Does not accept legal aid

Jacqueline joined Brand & Co in 2008 having spent the previous 10 years at a Legal 500 firm in West Sussex. Jacqueline became a partner at Brand & Co in 2011. Jacqueline has for the last 18 years...

Heather Meakin

Liverpool L3 1HU

child support Solicitors Liverpool

7 years of experience

Does not accept legal aid

I joined Michael Rose & Baylis in December 2015 and qualified as a Solicitors in July 2018. I have specialised my Family Law expertise in Divorce and the division of Matrimonial Finances since joining the team. However, since...

Bradie Pell

Sheffield S1 2DD

child support Solicitors Sheffield

14 years of experience

Does not accept legal aid

Recommended in the Legal 500 2020, I am a partner and the head of the family law department at Graysons and have specialised in family law now for a number of years. With significant experience in family law,...

Lucy Gregory

East Sussex BN3 5AA

child support Solicitors East Sussex

18 years of experience

Does not accept legal aid

Lucy is committed to providing creative bespoke solutions for clients based on their individual needs and priorities; was formerly head of family law at Crosby Moore Solicitors in Hove and prior to that worked for Howlett Clarke solicitors;...

Hollie Symon

Southend-on-Sea SS2 6HZ

child support Solicitors Southend-on-Sea

13 years of experience

Does not accept legal aid

Hollie obtained her LLB (Hons) in 2009, before passing the Legal Practice Course with distinction in 2010 at Anglia Ruskin University. Hollie undertook her training contract at an Essex firm and qualified as a solicitor in 2012. Hollie...

Sarah-Jane Riddell

East Sussex BN3 5AA

child support Solicitors East Sussex

32 years of experience

Does not accept legal aid

Sarah-Jane collaborative family lawyer and accredited mediator specialising in family law since 1993 at a range of large regional and smaller local firms; offers mediation (including MIAMs) with regard to all issues relating to both children and finances;...

Salmaan Islam

Essex RM1 1DA

child support Solicitors Essex

18 years of experience

Does not accept legal aid

North Ford Solicitors is a firm of fully qualified and experienced solicitors specialising in civil litigation, employment law and family law. From county court actions to major disputes conducted in the High Court of Justice, we have extensive...

Thushara Collins

Benfleet SS7 5LD

child support Solicitors Benfleet

18 years of experience

Does not accept legal aid

Choose the right solicitor at the right time! We offer a free initial consultation.

Grant Stephens Family Law

Solicitors Cardiff CF10 3DP

child support Solicitors

4 Solicitors

Established in 2013

Does not accept legal aid

Grant Stephens Family Law, located in the heart of Cardiff, is a specialist family law firm that has been established for over a decade, earning an unrivalled reputation. The firm provides expertise across all areas of private family...

5 Solicitors Family Law (Area of expertise might be child support)

We recommend contacting one of the solicitors listed below, as their area of practice is relevant to your enquiry.

Jamie Byrne

Stockport SK5 7DL

child support Solicitors Stockport

34 years of experience

Does not accept legal aid

I graduated from Manchester University Law school in 1986 and qualified as a solicitor in 1990. My career has spanned four decades and I have built up a vast wealth of legal experience handling thousands of personal injury...

Robert Hammond

London SW18 1GN

child support Solicitors London

30 years of experience

Does not accept legal aid

I am a partner at Murray Hay and specialise in family law, with particular emphasis on divorce and its financial consequences and disputes between unmarried couples. I have practised family law since 1994 and have been accredited as...

Michelle Ellis

Suffolk IP22 4ND

child support Solicitors Suffolk

29 years of experience

Does not accept legal aid

Separation; divorce; childcare; finances: not many issues get much more emotive or stressful – but I knows that when things are bad, no-one wants a lawyer to make them worse. A friendly ear, strong support and wise counsel...

Vince Adon

London EC4A 2AB

child support Solicitors London

7 years of experience

Does not accept legal aid

I hold a first class honours degree in Law and also completed the Legal Practice Course at BPP Law School. With over 6 years' legal experience and more than 15 years in business, I have been able to...

Ademola AKILO

Luton LU1 2QH

child support Solicitors Luton

27 years of experience

Accepts legal aid in child support

Great solicitor eager to take on brand new challenges

Our Qredible experts

child support Solicitors

What should I know about child support in the UK?

How can a solicitor help with child support, and what does it cost?

5 Solicitors Family Law (Area of expertise might be child support)