Child Maintenance. Can I Get It If We Weren't Married?

No marriage. No ring. No “common law” rights. But does that mean no child maintenance? Absolutely not. In this essential episode of Get Legally Speaking, Hatti is joined by senior family law Barrister Maria Scotland to cut through some of the BIGGEST myths in family law and explain, in plain English, how child maintenance really works when parents were never married. They break down: Whether being unmarried affects your right to child maintenance How the Child Maintenance Service (CMS) actually works What happens if the other parent refuses to pay When the court can step in under Schedule 1 of the Children Act 1989 Why “common law marriage” is a myth — and why it matters This is one of the most emotional and misunderstood areas of family law. Whether you’re newly separated, co-parenting, or simply want to know where you stand, this episode gives you clarity, confidence, and practical next steps. No fear. No myths. Just the law — explained in plain and simple English. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.