Child maintenance when a parent lives abroad — full guide

REVIEWED BY: Sean McNamara on 2026-09-01

When the other parent of your child moves overseas (or already lives abroad), sorting out child maintenance feels like the rules have changed under you. In part they have — the Child Maintenance Service (CMS) cannot always help, and the route forward depends on where the other parent lives and where the child lives. This guide sets out the official position, plainly and step by step. It is not legal advice.

The core rules (from gov.uk):

If you and your child live abroad, you cannot make a new CMS application at all.
If the other parent lives abroad, the CMS can only help if that parent works for certain British organisations (for example the civil service, the armed forces, or a UK-based company seconding them abroad).
If the CMS cannot help, you can either agree a private child maintenance arrangement between yourselves, or ask a court to make or enforce a maintenance decision.

Scenario 1: The other parent lives abroad and works for a British employer

The CMS can still handle your case in limited circumstances. If the paying parent works abroad for a British organisation (for example, a civil servant posted overseas, a member of the armed forces, or an employee of a UK company working abroad for that company), you can apply to the CMS as normal. Start at the official CMS application page on gov.uk — the CMS will assess whether the employer qualifies.

Scenario 2: The other parent lives abroad and the CMS cannot help

You have two broad routes:

1. A private (family-based) arrangement. You and the other parent agree an amount and a payment method yourselves. This is flexible and free, but there is a catch: you cannot enforce a private arrangement you've made yourselves — you need to make it legally binding first (for example, through a consent order filed with a court). Gov.uk is explicit that unenforceable private arrangements give you no enforcement route if payments stop.

2. A court route. You can ask a court for help if the other parent does not pay maintenance they owe, or ask the court to change an existing child maintenance decision or make a new one. How you do this depends on two questions:

Where does the other parent live? If they live in a Reciprocal Enforcement of Maintenance Orders (REMO) country, there is a formal UK route (see below). If they live elsewhere, you will generally need a solicitor in this country and possibly local legal advice abroad to find out whether the decision can be enforced.
Where was the original decision made? A UK court order, a CMS calculation and a foreign court order are enforced through different machinery.

The REMO route (other parent in a listed country)

If the other parent lives in a REMO country, apply through the Maintenance Enforcement Business Centre (MEBC):

1. Contact the MEBC by email or post. Tell them your name, the other parent's name, and the details of your case. 2. The MEBC checks whether you are eligible and, if so, sends you an application form and supporting guidance. 3. Depending on your situation you may need to attend a court hearing in the UK or pay a court fee — the supporting guidance explains this. 4. Your completed application is sent to the court in the country the other parent lives in. That foreign court decides whether maintenance should be paid ("awarded") and can decide whether to enforce payment. 5. Track progress by contacting the MEBC only — do not contact the foreign court directly.

The official list of REMO countries is on gov.uk (it changes over time — check the current list before applying). If the other parent does not live in a REMO country, gov.uk's advice is to get legal advice from a solicitor to find out if you can enforce the decision there.

If the other parent lives in the UK but you live abroad

You can still enforce a child maintenance decision from abroad — gov.uk has a dedicated route ("Enforcing a child maintenance decision if you live abroad") covering enforcement through UK courts or the CMS depending on how the original decision was made. Contact the MEBC or the CMS as appropriate.

Which court deals with a maintenance claim in England and Wales?

When a UK court is the right route (for example, a parent living in England and Wales who won't pay, where the CMS can't act), family courts can deal with top-up and unmet obligations, Schedule 1 children claims and maintenance between certain parties. The local family court that handles your area will be the venue — check your court documents, or see our court guides for the venue nearest you.

Practical tips

Gather the evidence first: the other parent's overseas address (even an approximate one), their employer's details, bank details if you have them, and any history of payments or written promises. Enforcement bodies and courts work on evidence, not assurances.
Get the arrangement in writing before reliance: if you agree maintenance privately, make it legally binding at the same time — not after payments stop.
Watch currency and transfer practicalities: agree who bears exchange and transfer costs; small regular transfers can otherwise erode the amount received.
Keep records of every payment and non-payment. Courts and the MEBC both need a clear payment history.
Act promptly. Enforcement routes have procedural steps and, in some cases, limitation considerations — delay rarely helps.

Where to get help

Child Maintenance Options (free, impartial information service): 0800 988 0988 — childmaintenanceoptions.service.gov.uk
Citizens Advice — free advice on child maintenance and enforcement: citizensadvice.org.uk
Gingerbread — advice for single parents, including CMS problems: gingerbread.org.uk
A solicitor — for non-REMO countries and complex cases, professional advice is usually essential.

YourFamilyCase.co.uk is an independent information directory — we are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to HMCTS, the Child Maintenance Service or gov.uk. This page is general information and is not legal advice; rules change, so confirm the current position on the official pages linked below.

Official sources (gov.uk):

Content verified against the official HMCTS court directory, gov.uk forms and fees pages, and the professional body registers (SRA, FMC, Bar Council). Last reviewed September 2026.