Financial Provision and Property Orders for Children

Abstract

Both married and unmarried parents have financial obligations to their children, which is one way in which parents fulfil their parental responsibilities. Step-parents in some circumstances also have similar obligations. The law relating to the provision of financial relief for children (i. e. maintenance, lump sum orders or property orders) is fragmented; financial relief can be claimed under different statutory provisions in different court proceedings or from the Department of Social Security. Even the terminology is confusing; maintenance is referred to as support, and financial relief can also include property orders.