About Child Maintenance Options

• Who can use the Child Maintenance Options service?

  We work with both parents because we are impartial. Our service is also available to family, friends, guardians, concerned professionals and anyone in England, Wales and Scotland with an interest in child maintenance.

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• What can Child Maintenance Options help me with?

  We can talk you through your options for arranging child maintenance. We can also give you information to help you decide if your current child maintenance arrangement is the best one for your circumstances. We're impartial which means we aren't biased towards any one way of arranging child maintenance. We can also offer practical information in areas linked to child maintenance, such as housing, employment and money. And we can signpost specialist organisations which can offer you advice.

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• What's the relationship between Child Maintenance Options and the CSA?

  At Child Maintenance Options we provide impartial information and support to help both parents make informed choices about child maintenance. The CSA is the statutory child maintenance service and is one of the options for arranging child maintenance. You can go to the CSA if you want them to arrange child maintenance for you. We don't arrange child maintenance for you, but we can give you information about all your options.

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• Can Child Maintenance Options get me access to my child?

  No. Child maintenance is a separate issue from access to (or contact with) your child. If you'd like help with arranging access, you can speak to Cafcass. Our links page shows other organisations that can help you with access.

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• If I'm not happy with the service I get from Child Maintenance Options, what can I do?

  We always want to hear about ways we can improve the service we provide to customers. That's why we ask for all feedback - positive and negative. You can either call us on freephone ^† 0800 988 0988, or contact us, or write to us at Child Maintenance Options, Selectapost 38, Sheffield S97 3FJ.

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• What does Child Maintenance Options do with my data?

  At Child Maintenance Options we understand the concerns around the collection and use of personal information. To find out more, you can read our privacy policy.

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^† We offer a callback service because you may be charged by your provider if you use a mobile phone.