I think so. My initial financial agreement comprised alimony and child support. The alimony part had a time limit on it and also a clause that allowed to me to stop the alimony if she remarried or shacked up for six months. She did the latter and I stopped the alimony. The child support continued, even though she subsequently had two more kids with another bloke, whom she didn't marry and no longer lives with. I guess he pays support too, although I've never asked. None of my business.

Also, do they have or is it possible to have the child support money converted into something like food or clothes stamps to stop the ex spending it on themselves?

Like I said in my post Souv, surprised and not if you know what I mean. Probably because I never think about it until the subject comes up.

Like I said, no offense was meant, just seems always to be a shock to me as to the numbers of people ( mostly my wife ) knows.

My ex had something like that written into a separation agreement. From memory the clause was:

the use of a sports utility type vehicle not more than three years old having leather seats

Cheers. I think it's wrong that they should continue paying if the custodian gets married again or is in a committed relationship. It's financially unfair.

That said, i'm not knowledgeable on this subject so may be missing something.

In Canada, it makes no difference. From recollection, it doesn't make any difference in the UK either, but I could be wrong/things may have changed.

The way that child support is calculated in Canada is, IMVHO, a little mad.

I don't think it's wrong at all. He is my son and I have a moral and human responsibility to support him regardless of his mother's domestic arrangements.

I have little time for delinquent parents. None, actually.

Matters not one iota. The absent parent is still obliged to pay child maintenance even if the parent receiving that support has remarried a Millionaire.

As I remember, (its been a while) should the absent parent have children by a new partner, the amount paid to an ex is slightly lowered under the formula. I stand to be corrected on that though, it may have changed?

I used to live near Hastings where the S.E. offices of the CSA were based. I knew a couple of people who worked there. By their own admittance, they used to pursue 'easy cases' ie, those on P.A.Y.E. who were paying something rather than chasing those who were for example, self employed who could 'juggle' their true earnings, those with smart accountants or at the other end of the scale, those who were transient or with little assets to their name, that were a lost cause to pursue for payment.

I understand that and to a point agree. But my problem would be, if i were in that situation, that i'd need to be 100% certain the money i gave is going directly to the kids and not to the mother and her new fella to subsidise their lives.

I would personally like to see the money go into an education account or one with no access until the kid is 18 or so.

But like i said, i have no idea who these things work and i don't intend to find out.

You can't be 100% certain where the money is going. The child still needs to be fed, clothed, housed etc, regardless of who it lives with.

I made a commitment when I became a father and I intend to stick by it.

Not all people share my point of view. I've met a fair few that have legged it after fathering. I despise them.

You could give the money in specific gift certificates. My other nan used to send me ones for my birthday and Christmas for Halfords as she said didn't want the money to spent on booze or contraceptives. I was only eight.

In a word yes . They do not take into consderation her wage or lifestyle you pay a percentage of your wage

I wish...If only you were the person on the end of the phone!

I have no problem paying in the slightest but knowing the money isnt going on my daughter as she is palmed off during the week does grind on you but its something you have to deal with.

Tried social services been there done that ...she gets her to lie when they turn up .

As I keep being told the best place is "with the mother"

Dont get me wrong she is looked after just half the time by someone else.

My payments since having a baby went down by £7 a week . I dont think we will be having another anytime soon!

Yes I have a right to pay and I am paying and have always paid BUT a new born baby £7 per week 12 yr old child £250 per month?

Before we started trying for a baby We contacted a CSA agent who said it would half...we worked out this would leave us OK financially not comfortable turns out we were informed incorrectly....

£250 a month? If only............