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Published by The Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body
Financial support for children from parents: cross-border cases
Author: Sarah Harvie-Clark
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Published: Monday 19 Jan 2026 (SB 26-06)
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Overview
Report
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Overview
Report
Executive summary
Introduction and overview
Other resources and the need for legal advice
House of Commons research briefings
Legal advice for individuals
Specialist organisations
An introduction to the system of financial support
Two separate statutory frameworks
How parents obtain financial support in respect of children
Child maintenance under the Child Support Act 1991
Key terms and concepts
Individuals who can apply to the CMS for a child maintenance calculation
How the system operated by the CMS works
The geographical limits of the CMS's authority
Habitual residence: in more detail
Aliment under the Family Law (Scotland) Act 1985
Where the paying parent moves overseas
Where there is a court order or registered minute of agreement
The 2007 Hague Convention
The role of the central authority
More about the process under the 2007 Hague Convention
EU cross-border cases commenced before 31 December 2020
Other cases not covered by the 2007 Hague Convention
Where there is no existing court order
2007 Hague Convention cases
Financial costs
Arrears that built up when a case was under the remit of the CMS
The timing of an application to the Scottish Central Authority
Cases not covered by an international agreement
Other cross-border maintenance situations
Where the paying parent moves to another part of the UK, Channel Islands, the Isle of Man or certain UK overseas territories
The paying parent moves to England or Wales
The paying parent moves to Northern Ireland
Where the paying parent moves to another part of the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man or certain 'UK overseas territories'
Where the receiving parent has moved overseas
Sources
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Harvie-Clark, S. (2025). Child Abduction, SB 25-26. Retrieved from
https://digitalpublications.parliament.scot/ResearchBriefings/Report/2025/7/7/876ce584-b6e9-4f19-9a00-e1123f77a2ec
Foley, N. (2023, December 12). Child maintenance: Overseas cases and income (UK). Retrieved from
https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-7775/
Haley, L. (2024). Legal advice - where to go and how to pay, SB 24-24. Retrieved from
https://digitalpublications.parliament.scot/ResearchBriefings/Report/2024/5/16/3d4eb61f-2f9e-4078-98b6-b161db1a65c2
House of Commons Library. (2024, February 14). Legal help: where to go and how to pay. Retrieved from
https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/sn03207/
Harvie-Clark, S. (2024). Parental responsibilities and rights, SB 24-40. Retrieved from
https://digitalpublications.parliament.scot/ResearchBriefings/Report/2024/9/3/26ba44a2-3634-42eb-869d-6edfca54cfc2
Counley, M. (2025). Child Support Handbook, chapter 2, p 15. Child Poverty Action Group: London.
Department of Work and Pensions. (2025). Child maintenance decision makers' guide, volume 4, chapter 37, para 37024. Retrieved from
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/67cec43bdf9470296491606b/volume-4-information-gathering-chapters-37-41.pdf
Department of Work and Pensions. (2025). Child maintenance decision makers' guide, volume 4, chapter 37, paras 37031-37035. Retrieved from
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/67cec43bdf9470296491606b/volume-4-information-gathering-chapters-37-41.pdf
Sutherland, E.E. (2008). Child and Family Law, Second Edition, para 8-081. Edinburgh: Thomson/W Green.
Scottish Govermment. (2024). Email from the Scottish Government to SPICe.
Government of Canada. (2024). 2024 Child Support Changes. Retrieved from
https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/fl-df/enforce-execution/enforce-execut.html#s1
Scottish Government. (2020). Cross-EU border family law from 1 January 2021: guidance for legal professionals. Retrieved from
https://www.gov.scot/publications/cross-eu-border-family-law-1-january-2021-guidance-legal-professionals/pages/1/
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