Family & care
Divorce & separation money calculator
Where a link is marked *, it is a partner link — we receive commission at no extra cost to you. Links without a * earn us nothing. How we make money.
Illustrates how child maintenance and housing costs might split household income after separation. It does not cover pension sharing orders or spousal maintenance.
Illustrative split of household income, housing and child maintenance after separation. Spousal maintenance is court-ordered and cannot be calculated here — speak to a solicitor or Advicenow.
- CMS maintenance (estimate)
- £443.36
- Combined household income
- £5,000
| Your income after housing & CMS (illustrative) | £2,200.00 |
|---|---|
| Partner income after housing & CMS (illustrative) | £1,156.64 |
CMS uses gross income, pension contributions, other children and shared care nights — this is a basic-rate estimate only. Mediation may be cheaper than court: cost of divorce in the UK.
How it works
- Enter each partner's net and gross monthly income.
- Add children requiring maintenance and monthly housing costs.
- We apply a simplified CMS basic-rate formula and show illustrative income left for each partner.
Common questions
- Is child maintenance legally binding?
- CMS assessments are enforceable. Private agreements can be recorded but may need court approval to be binding.
- What about spousal maintenance?
- There is no formula — courts weigh income needs, earning capacity and children. This tool does not estimate it.
- Should we use mediation?
- Family mediation is usually cheaper than court for agreeing finances. Legal aid may cover it on low incomes.