My husband is soon to become self employed, he will still be employed through a company though, he is currently paying 264 pcm to the ex via a private based arrangement, obviously we dont know if at first, we can afford to keep paying this amount as its likely to be tough to build up business. Do we still have to pay this set amount? Although its a private arrangement the ex still forced him through the CSA to do the calculation only. and we pay her direct to her bank.

Please dont advise talking to the ex, they are not on speaking terms and she wants to screw him for every penny she can regrdless of income or hardship, and she will not take him moving jobs into account even in the short term so he could maybe pay her more at a later date when he is established to make up for any shortfall just now.

Also the child in question i very much doubt she is receiving child benefit for as her current partner is likely to be a Higher rate tax payer and surrendered it, so how does that leave us in the future when the csa used to depend on the receipt of this to extend payments up to age 20 if still in education?

Unfortunately we dont get to see the child any more as she has made it so difficult for everyone and he is emotionally damaged by her so he pretends he cant hear his dad on the phone or says he doesnt want to see him for visits, its so sad.

I think the worst she could do is ring the CSA and ask to change from a private arrangement back to where your ex would pay the CSA and then they pay her. She might have to open a new claim vis the CMS (new CSA service) which will take time to be set up etc

In the meantime I would advise writing her a letter and sending it recorded delivery (so it has to be signed for) telling her of the changes and dates etc so she can't claim you didn't inform her. I'd also pay as much as you can each month once he's self employed until the business is built up and you can return to paying the £264 plus any arrears

Hold on a minute, if his ex is with a new partner and they both jointly look after this child and you/your partner do not get to see the child then the ex new partner becomes financially responsible for the child, not you.

I get that morally maybe you want to and feel you should but I am pretty sure you don't have to if she has a new fella, he takes her and the child on.

No it doesn't work like that. Any new partner does not have financial responsibility for the child(ren) involved in the case.

No it doesn't work like that. Any new partner does not have financial responsibility for the child(ren) involved in the case.

Sorry but I disagree and feel you are wrong, I know I have read/heard about it somewhere before.

You are wrong. Unless the new partner adopts the child they do not have parental/finanical responsibility

... I'd also pay as much as you can each month once he's self employed until the business is built up and you can return to paying the £264 plus any arrears...

Arrears ? Your husband should only be paying the required amount based on his current earnings at the time, not on any previous earnings, assuming he isn't already paying off any arrears.

He should not be keeping up with the £264 payments unless his earnings at the time warrant that level of payment. He should be paying 15% of his earnings after PAYE and NI.

Thats why I said 'plus any arrears'. I don't think he'll accrue any but its best to show willing

I was meaning the "I'd also pay as much as you can each month once he's self employed" bit.

He shouldn't pay as much as he can, he should pay the correct amount for his earnings at the relevant time. Don't worry about the private arrangement level of £264, it's his earnings at the time that count.

...you/your partner do not get to see the child...

Don't make the mistake of letting access/contact issues cloud CSA matters. The two have absolutely no affect on each other.