The Government is reforming the Child Maintenance Service (CMS) to take tougher action against parents who fail to take financial responsibility for their children. 

Key Reforms 

• Removal of Application Fee: From 26 February 2024, the £20 application fee for child maintenance will be removed to ensure no child misses out on vital support. 
• Faster Enforcement: Enforcement actions will be fast-tracked from six months to six weeks, making the system fairer for parents and children. 
• Administrative Liability Orders: New regulations will allow the CMS to recover unpaid child maintenance without court applications, reducing the time for obtaining a liability order from 22 weeks to as little as six weeks. 

The CMS will also have options such as collecting earnings directly from employers and different bank accounts before escalating to tougher enforcement actions like bailiff action and disqualification from driving.