This Practice Note details the role of the Secretary of State acting through the child maintenance service (CMS) in calculating and collecting child support maintenance, the jurisdiction of the CMS and the jurisdiction of the court. It also considers specific situations in which special jurisdictional arrangements are in place in relation to consent orders, existing orders, maintenance agreements and provision from the estate of a deceased parent. See also Practice Notes: Statutory child support scheme and Maintenance provision for children under Schedule 1 to the Children Act 1989.

Regarding the jurisdiction of the courts generally to make orders in financial order proceedings on divorce or dissolution, see Practice Note: Financial proceedings—orders that can be made by the court.