Reform the Child Maintenance and Family Court System
- Deanna Newell
- May 24
- 2 min read
We call on the UK Government to review and reform the interaction between the Family Court system and the Child Maintenance Service (CMS) to ensure decisions are fair, transparent, and centred on the welfare of the child.
At present, child maintenance and child contact are treated as separate legal matters. However, in practice, concerns are increasingly raised that they can become indirectly linked, particularly where overnight care affects child maintenance assessments under current CMS rules. This can contribute to financial and contact disputes becoming entangled during separation.
We also recognise that many families experience complex circumstances, including domestic abuse, economic abuse, and post-separation financial control.
In these situations, one parent may be left with significantly reduced financial stability while continuing to care for their children.
Concerns are also raised by separated parents that child maintenance assessments do not always fully reflect the financial reality after separation, including long-term commitments such as housing costs, mortgages, school fees, pensions, and savings arrangements made during the relationship.
At the same time, there are cases where survivors of domestic abuse are left with little financial security, highlighting the need for stronger safeguards and fair assessment processes that reflect vulnerability and real-life circumstances.
We are calling for reform to ensure that:-
Child maintenance remains focused solely on the needs of the child.
Financial assessments are transparent and based on full and accurate disclosure.
The impact of overnight care on maintenance liability is properly reviewed for fairness.
Safeguards are strengthened to protect domestic abuse survivors and vulnerable parents.
Financial disputes and contact arrangements are not allowed to become improperly entangled.
The system reflects real-life family breakdown and reduces unnecessary conflict between parents
No child should grow up in poverty. And no parent should be placed into financial hardship while trying to support their children.
We believe a joined-up, transparent, and fair system is essential to protect children’s welfare and reduce long-term conflict between parents.
We urge Parliament and the Government to review the current framework and implement reforms that ensure fairness, accountability, and consistency across both family courts and the Child Maintenance Service.
Deanna Newell Family Law
Advocacy for truth-tellers, survivors, and the children who deserve better
