The Child Support Agency (CSA) is set for a major reform, while a new mediation service is to be piloted to help resolve potential CSA cases. The organisation has been unpopular and fiercely criticized ever since it was created in 1993.

Former welfare minister Frank Field says the CSA is “in meltdown.” The former Work and Pensions Secretary, David Blunkett, labelled the organisation a “complete shambles”. He had promised a “root-and-branch” reform of the child support system. His replacement, John Hutton, has already promised to continue with Blunkett’s reforming agenda.

The new mediation process has been designed to try to agree payments by absent parents before they become involved with the agency. The service, to be piloted in the New Year, will advise working parents how they can work out for themselves satisfactory arrangements for child maintenance. It has been designed to offer those who can't immediately resolve maintenance a nonlegislative and simple route to finding agreement.

The service would provide information and advice and in some cases would facilitate a roundtable meeting of the parties involved. The Government hopes to reduce the flow of cases into the CSA which is currently running at 290,000 a year. This, the Government hopes, would not only help the children and parents, but also allow the CSA to focus resources on the existing backlog.

Our expert solicitors will be able to advise you on any legal aspects relating to of child maintenance and divorce.