The Department for Work and Pensions has announced a consultation seeking views of the public on the proposed changes to the enforcement of arrears of child maintenance payments.

The Government is proposing to bring into force powers that allow the child maintenance service (“CMS”) to make an administrative liability order against a person who has failed to pay child maintenance and who is in arrears.

A liability order is a legal recognition of the child maintenance arrears as a debt and the order is required before the CMS can take certain enforcement actions against parents to recover any arrears.

At present, the CMS have to apply to court for a liability order which can take a long time.

It is hoped that by introducing a simpler process the CMS will be able to take faster action against parents who seek to avoid their responsibility to pay child maintenance and get money to children more quickly.

For more information and details of the consultation visit Child Maintenance: Accelerating Enforcement - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)