There are two main options for putting in place a child maintenance arrangement. Find out more about each one and then compare the options.
A private agreement
If you and the other parent can agree on how to provide child maintenance for your child without getting the courts or the Child Support Agency (CSA) involved - this is called a private agreement.
Arrangement using the CSA
If you don't feel you could work with the other parent to make a private agreement about child maintenance, you can ask the CSA to put an arrangement in place for you. They can collect and enforce payments.
In England and Wales, a court can turn a private agreement into a legally binding Consent Order. In Scotland, a private agreement can be registered to make it a legally binding Minute of Agreement.