The action we can take
The Child Support Agency can normally only deal with an application for child maintenance when both parents and the child live in the UK.
However we may be able to help in some exceptional circumstances, for example if the non-resident parent or the parent with care:
- is working abroad in the service of the crown, for example is a civil servant or works within Her Majesty's diplomatic service or within Her Majesty's overseas civil service
- is a member of the Armed Forces
- works abroad for a UK based company, for example it employs people to work outside the UK but makes payments via a UK payroll; and the company is registered under the companies act 1985 (England, Wales and Scotland) or the companies (Northern Ireland) order 1986
- works abroad on secondment for a prescribed body, for example from an NHS trust, regional health authority, primary care trust or local authority.
You can get more advice about whether these rules apply to you from our National Helpline
If your maintenance has been calculated by the Child Support Agency you can contact the centre dealing with your case
If the non-resident parent lives in Australia and the parent with care lives in the UK then the Australian Child Support Agency may be able to accept an application to assess maintenance. Contact the Australian Government Child Support Agency
If one of the parents lives abroad and does not fall into one of the categories above then the parent with care can apply to the courts for child maintenance.
If the parent with care needs help in collecting the money awarded under the court order for maintenance they can contact the Reciprocal Enforcement of Maintenance Orders section at the Official Solicitor & Public Trustee. Reciprocal Enforcement of Maintenance Orders - or REMO - is the process by which maintenance orders made by UK courts on behalf of UK residents can be registered and enforced by the courts or other authorities in other countries.
This is a reciprocal arrangement which means that foreign maintenance orders in favour of individuals abroad can be registered and enforced by UK courts against UK residents. More information on REMO
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