Child Support Advice, Information & Representation
- Assistance with incorrect or unfair assessments
- Assistance with Appeals and Tribunals Hearings
- Child Support Maintenance Calculations
- Assistance with Variation Orders or Departure Directions
- Assistance with Voluntary Maintenance Payments pending formal Maintenance Calculations
- Assistance for individuals who have accumulated arrears due to the Agency's delay
- Help with paternity disputes/challenging a presumption of parentage
- Help and assistance for people with linked cases (old and new system) Although the new CSA2 system is a simpler system, like its predecessor, it has many hidden pitfalls.
- Help and assistance on legal matters relating to enforcement procedures
- Help arranging private agreements between both parties outside the Agency
- Help and assistance for people who are self-employed and having a downturn in business
- Advising any person who is experiencing problems with the Agency
Related Services
- Legal Advice Voucher
- Call Direct
- Legal Assistance
- Case Manager
- Case Manager Plus
- Tribunal Commissioner Service
- Arrears Checking Service
- Private Maintenance Service
- Private Maintenance Agreement Service
Durham Legal Services Telephone Advice Voucher
Each advice voucher allows you two telephone consultations. There is no time limit regarding the length of the consultations. All consultations are conducted by qualified legal advisors who have specialised in child support legislation for a minimum of 5 years. You can purchase a voucher for a telephone consultation direct from the DLS website or by contacting the DLS on 01207 69 39 66.Durham Legal Services Call Direct
Call Direct allows an individual unlimited telephone consultations about their case with one of child support advisors. This service covers a 12 month period and advice is subject to the client's individual case only. This service has been designed to assist individuals who have the confidence to deal with the CSA directly and have a basic understanding of child support law, but need some support and assistance for themselves.Durham Legal Services Legal Assistance
Legal Assistance allows unlimited telephone consultations along with our letter drafting service and form filling assistance. This service covers a 12 month period and advice is subject to the client's case only. This service is suitable for individuals who have a complex child support case, but with some support and assistance will have the confidence to deal directly with the agency for themselves.Durham Legal Services Case Manager
Case Manager involves DLS taking over the full management of the individual's case. DLS will, under a Power of Attorney, conduct all the required action to resolve the case. The client will not deal directly with the Child Support Agency. This service is suitable for individuals who cannot deal with the Child Support Agency or are suffering ill health due to their dealings with the Agency, or who are simply too busy to deal with the Agency. If you have an extremely complex case, our Case Manager Plus service may be more appropriate for you.Durham Legal Services Case Manager Plus
Case Manager Plus involves DLS taking over the full management of the individual's case including tribunal representation. DLS will, under a Power of Attorney, conduct all the required action to resolve the case The client will not deal directly with the child support agency— only with DLS. This service is suitable for individuals who cannot deal with the Child Support Agency or are suffering ill health due to their dealings with the Agency, or simply too busy to deal with the Agency. We strongly recommend DLS Case Manger Plus for those involved in complex tribunal case which may result in a many adjournments.Durham Legal Services Tribunal Commissioner Service
When individual CSA cases appear before Child Support Tribunal or Commissioner, the issues often deal with large amounts of child support payments. We strongly recommend that individuals faced with a tribunal should at least purchase an advice voucher or seriously consider using our Tribunal Service. This service involves full appeals representation along with case preparation and evidence gathering.Durham Legal Services Arrears Checking Service
Arrears checking service assists individuals who have received correspondence from either the child support agency or one of the private debt recovery firms, including bailiffs, used by the Agency. This service is a mixture of telephone consultations and letter drafting services. Specifically designed to advise and assist individuals who are facing enforcement action against arrears which they do not believe they owe.Durham Legal Services Private Maintenance Service
If you wish to arrange fair Child Support Maintenance Payments but do not want to use the CSA or the Courts, then use Durham Legal Services in association with Footprint Evidence Tracker.Footprint is a web-based service designed to empower parents to negotiate maintenance payments and contact arrangements for themselves. It has an additional role of tracking child-related events so that if matters can't be resolved, it tracks and reports on the evidence required by the Courts to allow proper decision making. It provides the service desperately required by parents to assist them in resolving their child-centred issues following separation but without involving the Child Support Agency. It fits in exactly with the approach being taken by the Government who are encouraging parents to resolve matters for themselves and we believe it is the perfect solution which currently is being called for in light of the proposed changes to the Child Support Agency.
We provide a fast and efficient alternative to the Child Support Agency and the Family Court. With the co-operation of all parties, we can arrange maintenance agreements and have the payments made to your bank account within 48 hours.
Durham Legal Services Private Maintenance Agreement Service
Following the recent Government announcements about the existing Child Support Agency and its new replacement, Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission (CMAC) many individuals are opting to reach private agreements away from the Agency. Durham Legal Services can assist those parents who wish to arrange their child support in this way.
How We Deliver Results
At Durham Legal Services, we've been specializing in child support legislation for over twelve years. We're here to help both parents, offering personal and experienced assistance. As the largest independent agency in the United Kingdom specializing in UK and international child support legislation, we understand the intricasies involved in handling this unique field of law. We have represented thousands of individuals at all different stages of their dealings with the CSA and recovered hundreds of thousands of pounds for both NRPs and PWCs.The help and assistance offered by Durham Legal Services is two-fold. The initial contact is by telephone, and any advice given is strictly confidential, and above all, ACCURATE. During this conversation, your problem is normally identified.
A legally qualified DLS advisor will explain to you the course of action needed to resolve your problem. On a number of occasions, these problems require legal representation. The issues of paternity or representation at Independent Tribunal Service Hearings are never straightforward. Should you be faced with such a problem, you may decide to appoint Durham Legal Services as your representative.
Our fee is a fixed one-time payment— this fee will be agreed upon before any work is undertaken on your case. There are no further fees required regardless of how complicated or lengthy your case may become. Child support cases are time sensitive, so any delay in rectifying a problem could cost you money. Having Durham Legal Services represent you often results in your case receiving prompt attention. You will no longer need to spend time or money on telephone calls or letters to the Agency. Durham Legal Services will do all this for you.
