Hi all, would welcome some advice - didn't think I would find myself here, but there you go.
History:
- Me and ex separated March 2003, currently going through the divorce process (I'm the petitioner - grounds of 2 years post-sep with consent), ex has been delaying on the paperwork with financial details (more later). Also getting a Consent Order (i.e. clean financial break) so ex doesn't have any claim on my pension (such as it is lol) or spousal maintenance. We are relatively young (me 35, ex 33), went to Family Mediation post-separation and came to an agreement re. finances. Marriage was short - 4 1/2 years. One child born dec 2002.
- Finances: former matrimonial home sold, joint debts paid off and equity split 60:40. (most of it all pissed up the wall on the subsequent court action when ex decided to apply for sole residency). All finances sorted out and documented in Family Mediation agreeement, plus me and ex signed an agreement of the division of the finances.
- Recently been through the family court system, now have a Shared Residence Order which defines the number of overnight stays daughter (5 years old) lives with me - works out about 152 o/n's per year.
- Have new child with partner.
- Daughter was been in full-time nursery at my employers (I paid as it was deducted from salary directly, me and ex agreed for continuity that daughter would stay in nursery) until leaving to go to school (sept last year).
- ex tried to stiff me for full-time nursery fees for child maintenance (£550 per month!), but had anticipated this and done CSA online calculator calculation - £151 per month. Offered that to ex, via her solicitors, have written agreement (emails) that she agrees to that. CM was payable by standing order and is labelled "Child Maintenance" on my bank details, payed into ex's account.
- I also pay 1/2 daughters school lunch costs (£20 month) - so the ex in fact gets a figure of £171 month.
This morning get a phone call from "Department of Work and Pensions" at 11am - lady on the phone wanted to talk to me about child maintenance, I immediately said I would not communicate with them verbally, all communication was to be in writing but I did confirm my address with what their records stated. I also pointed out that there was a private arrangement in place.
other details:
- I've recently in the last month reduced my working hours by 4 1/2 hours (childcare commitments), so I now work 30.5 hours instead of 35 hours (breaks excluded), so in fact my CSA online calculation is about £130 a month! I've not reduced the standing order to reflect this, but all good will is now out of the window eh.
.... so what to expect dear mumsnet users?
- rather mystified as the ex's actions - it's obviously driven by her getting sight of my wage details during the divorce petition, I'm still waiting for her financial details!!! She obviously thinks she can get more money this way, she is in for a BIG surprise. I will be paying the CSA monies and no more - that includes no lunch money as CM covers everything. The ex has pi$$ed her good will up the wall on this little exercise. As if wasting thousands on the residence application wasn't enough?
so what do I expect - the thwack of the little brown envelope next week?
what will the CSA want, presumably 2 payslips (which they can have - i've got NOTHING to hide now!), they can have a copy of new daughters birth certificate proving her existence and also a copy of the court order which states the contact schedule. It's a very defined court order stating that daughter lives with me for:
week 1: fri, sat, sun o/n (pick up from school fri, return to school mon)
week 2: fri o/n
1/2 of all holidays, and inset days.
I can attach a calendar with the number of o/n's coloured in for the CSA too.
thoughts people and advice?
PS what about them saying they are the dept. work and pension????