If you're owed child maintenance

Summary

You don’t need to tell the CMS. They collect the payments, so they’ll know if the other parent misses any. They’ll try to agree a repayment schedule with the other parent. If the other parent still won’t agree to repay the arrears, there are other things the CMS can do to get the money. There are things the CMS can do to get the money you’re owed from the other parent. These are called ‘enforcement measures’. The CMS can try to get the arrears from the other parent’s earnings, benefits, or bank or building society account. If that doesn’t clear the arrears, the CMS can apply to court for a ‘liability order’. This means they can ask bailiffs to take goods from the other parent and sell them. If the other parent owns their home, the CMS can also ask a court for an order to sell it. The CMS can use any money raised to pay off the arrears. If this doesn’t clear the arrears, the CMS can ask a court to consider: * taking away the other parent’s passport or driving licence The CMS will decide how to collect the arrears. You should contact the CMS if either: * you’re not happy with how they plan to collect the arrears - like the repayment period is too long * you think they’re being too.

Key information

• •taking away the other parent’s passport or driving licence
• •you’re not happy with how they plan to collect the arrears - like the repayment period is too long
• •you think they’re being too slow to take enforcement action
• •the other parent can pay the arrears
• •there’s a reasonable chance of getting them paid in full
• •your child moved from the care of one parent to the other
• •your shared care arrangements changed
• •find the person dealing with the other parent’s estate
• •recover the arrears from the estate because there’s not enough in it
• •when the arrears became due
• •they're going to write off the arrears
• •they can still try to collect the arrears and what you need to do if you want them to do this

Practical guidance

• •Source: [If you're owed child maintenance](https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/family/children-and-young-people/child-maintenance1/getting-child-maintenance/if-youre-owed-child-maintenance/)

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