Child maintenance if one parent lives outside Scotland
If both parents agree, you can arrange child maintenance with an ex-partner living outside Scotland through a 'family-based arrangement'. This means you arrange between yourselves how much should be paid and how often.
If you make a private arrangement in the UK you will not be able to enforce it if your ex-partner lives abroad and stops paying.
You can use the child maintenance calculator on the GOV.UK website to give you an idea of how much you might be able to get.
If you and your ex-partner cannot agree
If you do not agree on child maintenance with your ex-partner and one of you lives outside Scotland, you can get help.
If you live in Scotland and your ex-partner lives abroad
Contact the Scottish Government for help working out what to do.
maintenanceenforcement@gov.scot
Telephone: 0131 244 2417 or 0131 244 4829
Find out about call charges
Or write to:
Scottish Government
Central Authority and International Law Team
St Andrew's House
Edinburgh
EH1 3DG
Scotland has Reciprocal Enforcement of Maintenance Order (REMO) agreements with other countries.
Courts in these countries can enforce child maintenance decisions made by Scottish courts. Or they can make an order for the payment of maintenance.
If you live abroad and your ex-partner lives in Scotland
Every country that has a reciprocal agreement with Scotland has a 'Central Authority' which deals with child maintenance issues.
Contact the Central Authority where you live for advice.
If you live in England or Wales and your ex-partner lives abroad
Contact the Central Authority for England and Wales.
If you live abroad and your ex-partner lives in England or Wales
Contact the Central Authority where you live for advice.
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