Planning For Single Parents In The UK
Being a single parent often means juggling the responsibilities of childcare and finances single-handedly or with limited support. If you’re solo parenting, you’ll know the often relentless challenge this can present. Whether it’s planning your will, securing financial support if you’ve been through / are going through a divorce or separation, or one of the many other practical financial considerations of single parents, our family and inheritance law experts are here to guide you every step of the way.
In this guide to planning for single parents, you’ll become more confident in:
- Child maintenance rights
- Knowing your child benefit entitlements
- What happens to your children, if something happens to you
- Exploring insurance options
- Testamentary guardianship
- Putting your financial responsibilities into a plan
Child maintenance rights
Whether you’ve ended a civil relationship, or been through a divorce, custody arrangements are one of the most important steps in planning life as a single parent. If you’re sharing care of your child, child maintenance can be complicated to work out.
Who pays?
In our experience, we’ve found that most people assume that the parent who earns more than the other will pay child maintenance. However, this isn’t true. Under complex child maintenance law rules, if both parents share equal care of their children, neither parent will pay child maintenance to the other parent.
In situations where one parent has primary care of the child and the other parent spends less time with them, the non-resident parent is generally required to make maintenance payments. The amount of child maintenance that a non-residential parent has to pay is usually calculated based on their income and the number of children they need to support.
The UK government has a child maintenance service (CMS), which provides a structured framework for calculating, collecting, and transferring payments. The CMS can help you determine how much maintenance should be paid and ensure that payments are made on time.
However, if both parents are in agreement, you can also create a family-based arrangement, which is often simpler and more flexible. There are also some cases where the CMS cannot help and alternative legal options need to be explored. In all cases, ensuring that the financial responsibilities are clearly outlined and legally recognised can help avoid conflicts and ensure your child’s well-being is always a priority.
Supportive family lawyers, such as our team at Hepburn Delaney, are experts in helping families navigate child maintenance payments and custody arrangements in a way that suits all parties.
Knowing your child benefit entitlements
In addition to child maintenance, you may also be entitled to child benefits – a payment made by the government to help with the costs of raising children. It’s important to understand your eligibility and ensure that you claim any support you’re entitled to.
Child benefit is typically available for any child under the age of 16 (or 20 if they are still in full-time education or training). The payment is usually made to one parent or guardian, and it’s important to keep your details up to date with HMRC to avoid complications.
At the time of writing (April 2025), the current weekly rate is £21.15 for the eldest or only child, and £14.00 for each additional child. You are eligible for this benefit regardless of your income, and can apply via Gov.uk.
For single parents, child benefit can be a part of your financial plan. If you’re the main caregiver, you’ll usually be the one who receives the payment, though both parents may still be eligible in certain cases. The amount of child benefit you can receive depends on how many children you have, with higher payments for families with more children.
What happens to your children, if something happens to you
If the worst happens, it’s so important to consider plans for your children. In the event of your death or incapacitation, a Will and a lasting power of attorney tells the courts and your loved ones exactly what you want to happen to your assets, finances and long-term care for your children.
Without a will, the courts or your family will decide who will look after your children if you pass away, and this may not be aligned with your preferences. To avoid confusion and ensure your children’s welfare is prioritised, appoint a testamentary guardian for them in your will. This can be someone you trust, such as a family member or close friend, who will care for your children and make decisions on their behalf.
Putting insurance in place
As a single parent, ensuring you have adequate insurance coverage is critical to protecting your financial future and that of your children. This may include life insurance, income protection insurance, and critical illness insurance. It is essential that you seek independent financial advice to consider your specific circumstances and get the best deal.
When discussing the options with your financial advisor, you may want to consider the following:
- Life insurance: You may need this if you’re the primary breadwinner or if your children depend on your income. Life insurance ensures that, in the event of your death, your children will be financially supported.
- Income protection insurance: This type of insurance is designed to provide you with a replacement income if you’re unable to work due to illness or injury. As a single parent, you may not have a second income to rely on, so this can provide peace of mind.
- Critical illness insurance: If you are diagnosed with a serious illness, critical illness insurance can offer financial protection while you take the time to recover. It can cover things like treatment costs, mortgage payments, and other living expenses during a difficult time.
While insurance may seem like an additional expense, it’s an important part of securing your and your children’s financial future. It’s also there to offer you complete peace of mind, knowing that you have a plan if something significant happens.
Testamentary guardianship
As part of making your Will , consider testamentary guardianship. This allows you to set out specific instructions on how your children should be raised, who should care for them, and what financial resources should be allocated to their care.
While guardianship is typically granted to a family member or close friend, testamentary guardianship ensures that the individuals you trust most will be responsible for your children in the event of your death. It’s a way to provide clarity and potentially avoid legal battles. If your child’s other parent is still alive and able to care for your child, that will be the starting point but if you feel this is not the best outcome, then what you include in your Will will carry weight in determining their future arrangements.
A testamentary guardianship doesn’t just define the guardian of your child in your Will, but instructions on their welfare. Hepburn Delaney’s specialist Inheritance team can support you with this process.
Putting your financial responsibilities into a plan
The final step in planning for single parents is creating a structured plan that outlines all of your key financial responsibilities. This plan should consider all aspects of your finances, broken down into the following:
- Income: child maintenance, benefits, your salary and any other income
- Outgoings: bills, food, travel, child expenses, insurance protection and any other outgoings
Creating a monthly income and outgoing tracker will help you get a full, accurate picture of your financial situation. If you choose to seek legal advice, this will also help your lawyer and any financial advisor to understand your situation, and what benefits/maintenance you could get.
Legal support and guidance with Hepburn Delaney
All of this can be hugely overwhelming for any single parent. That’s why we’ve been supporting single parents for over 10 years with making plans for their children.
Whether it’s family mediation or advice to help you and a co-parent navigate child living and spending time with arrangements and maintenance entitlements fairly, writing a Will or putting in place a lasting power of attorney, we can provide clarity and give you peace of mind about your child’s future.
For legal advice and guidance, please contact Hepburn Delaney today.
