This has been a busy week – even by my standards!

In addition to my day to day work, I was invited to appear on BBC 1’s The One Show, to discuss the imminent introduction of the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission (CMEC). It is set to take over from the much-loathed Child Support Agency. However, as I have noted in previous posts about the CSA, there are already question marks over this replacement organisation’s fitness for purpose.

I note that on The One Show’s blog, the topic has already attracted almost 300 comments from viewers. Frankly, I’m not surprised. For many of those who have encountered the old CSA – be they parents, children or legal professionals – feelings about this deeply flawed  organisation run high.  Click below to see the item.

Readers who seek further information about CMEC may wish to read Rachel Baul’s recent guest post: From the CSA to CMEC: 10 Things That You Should Know.

On Monday I appeared on BBC Radio 4’s Law in Action programme, along with David Lister from Mishcon de Reya, to discuss the impending divorce between Madonna and Guy Ritchie. The link to the programme is below:

On air, I was at pains to point out that these big celebrity cases can give the impression that divorce is always “an absolute nightmare” – when the truth is that the process can be far less painful.

Note: This blog receives lots of queries related to the Child Support Agency (CSA). Unfortunately, because of the complex and labyrinthine nature of CSA processes and rules, such questions often call for lengthy and long-winded answers. For this reason, it is difficult to answer such queries on an individual basis.

If you are seeking advice about a situation that involves the CSA, perhaps these earlier posts will help. If your CSA-related query is of a pressing nature, I recommend that you contact the National Association for Child Support Action: a hardworking organisation that can provide ongoing assistance, advice and support.

Related Posts

Here is a list of other related blog posts that you may be interested in:

• Fathers, birth certificates and the latest “big idea”
• From the CSA to C-MEC: 10 things that you should know
• Child maintenance, the CSA and the quality of mercy
• Child Support and Overseas Parents – by guest blogger Rachel Baul
• The CSA: Rachel Baul Answers Your Questions
• The CSA: Questions and Answers – by guest blogger Rachel Baul
• A Cohabitation Conundrum – by guest blogger Hayley Edwards
• Divorce overseas: ten steps to protect your children
• When being too motherly can land you in jail
• The Nanny, The Doctor, His Wife – And Her Lover