Thank you for visiting the CMSAS Limited website. Please note, we are NOT the gov.uk Child Maintenance Service (CMS). If you need to contact the CMS, the number for an existing case with the CMS is 0800 171 2345 and for a new case is 0800 988 0988 or you can go to their website here: https://www.gov.uk/child-maintenance-service. CMSAS Limited consultants are specialists in the Statutory Scheme of child support, as administered by the Child Maintenance Service. We would like to make you aware that we are not the gov.uk Child Maintenance Service (CMS). We are a private company that provide a chargeable service of support, guidance and advice to both Receiving and Paying Parents, with Child Maintenance issues, assessments, appeals, tribunals and all Child Maintenance matters pertaining to the CMS (Child Maintenance Service) and/or HMCTS (Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service), including where difficulties develop with the CMS and/or HMCTS.

Qualifying & Relevant Children

Qualifying Children

Qualifying Children are the number of children the NRP must pay Child Support for.

Relevant Other Children

The number of Relevant Other Children affects the calculation of Child Support. A ‘Relevant Other Child’ (or ‘Relevant Child’) is the term used by the CMS for a child, other than a Qualifying Child, for whom the NRP or their partner, receives Child Benefit. Shared Care, Boarding school, and other factors, may affect this.

Relevant Non-Resident Children

The number of Relevant Non-Resident Children affects the calculation of Child Support. ‘Relevant Non-Resident Child’ is a term used by the CMS to refer to a child of the NRP for whom an application for Child Support cannot be made because the NRP is liable to pay maintenance for them under a maintenance order, an order of a non-British court or under the legislation of a country outside the UK.

This is a child that would be considered a ‘Qualifying Child’ if an application for Child Support could not be made for them. It includes a child who does not live with the NRP and a child whose care is shared between the NRP and someone else.

When working out the Basic and Reduced Rate of Child Support, (including if payable after a variation), a Relevant Non-Resident Child counts as a Qualifying Child, even though no amount of Child Support is paid for them.

The amount of Child Support calculated is divided by the total number of Qualifying Children, including any Relevant Non-Resident Children. This amount is then multiplied by the number of Qualifying Children, excluding any Relevant Non-Resident Children. This gives the amount of Child Support the NRP must pay.

Reductions for Qualifying, Relevant Non-Resident & Relevant Other Children

The Basic Rate is a percentage of the NRPs gross weekly income, depending on the number of qualifying children, including the number of any relevant non-resident children they have.

If the NRP has other children living with them, their gross income is reduced by a certain percentage before the basic rate is calculated.

The percentages used to reduce the gross weekly income are shown below:

Basic rate; reduction in gross income for relevant other children

Number of relevant other childrenPercentage by which gross income is reduced
One11%
Two14%
Three16%

Basic rate percentages

Number of
qualifying children (including
relevant non-resident children)
Percentage of
gross income
up to £800
Percentage of
gross income
above £800
One12%9%
Two16%12%
Three or more19%15%

Further examples of calculations can be found by clicking here.

If you would like to arrange an initial consultation with us, please click here or select one of the options below.

Initial Consultation

We charge £175 (£210 inc. VAT) for an initial consultation.

Additional Consulting Hours

We charge £150 (£180 inc. VAT) for additional hours.

Mother hugging son on her lap