We sometimes get queries about getting child maintenance payments enforced in the UK. Well here are the details of the Unit that deals with this:
Reciprocal Enforcement of Maintenance Orders (REMO) Unit
The Reciprocal Enforcement of Maintenance Order (REMO) Unit helps to register and enforce child maintenance orders internationally.
REMO Unit [email protected]
Telephone: 020 3681 2757
From outside the UK: +44 (0)20 3681 2757
Fax: 020 3681 2764
Find out about call charges
REMO Unit
Official Solicitor and Public Trustee
Victory House
30-34 Kingsway
London
WC2B 6EX
If you have an existing court order for child maintenance that you want to enforce in another country, contact the court where it was made. Contact your local family court, or sheriff court in Scotland, if you don’t have a court order.
Good morning. My ex husband is a GP in the Zuerich area and has his own practice. I live with our 3 children in Scotland, where we were divorced. He pays little maintenance and irregularly. How high are my chances to enforce more regular maintenance ?
My ex husband left Zimbabwe in 2000 for Switzerland. Soon after he disappeared and I couldn't trace him. In 2002 I filed for divorce and a maintenance order was passed for our daughter who is now 20 and is applying for University. We have now located him and would like to have the maintenance order enforced in Switzerland as this would go towards her University fees. How do we do this.
Swiss Authorities Online has a page "Divorce and maintenance contributions" with this section:
"If maintenance is not paid
If your ex-husband or wife neglects their maintenance obligations:
The cantons are required to provide a free service to help the person entitled to maintenance to recover the payments. In addition, all cantons will, under certain conditions, make advanced payments to tide you over until the amount is paid. In certain circumstances you can apply to the court for a debt recovery order to have the outstanding contribution taken directly from the salary of your ex-husband or wife and transferred to you. If you are owed maintenance payments you can initiate debt recovery proceedings at the credit agency of the person owing contributions. You can also initiate criminal proceedings against the person who neglects their maintenance obligations even though they were in a position to pay maintenance."