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<p>The Child Maintenance Service (CMS) has a range of enforcement powers at its disposal
to ensure parents meet their financial obligations to their children.</p><p>These
include deductions directly from earnings and bank accounts, using Enforcement Agents
(previously known as bailiffs) to take control of goods, forcing the sale of property,
removal of driving licence or UK passport or even commitment to prison.</p><p>The
Child Support (Enforcement) Act received Royal Assent in 2023. This creates a primary
power to replace court-based liability orders with administrative orders, which should
significantly speed up this key enforcement process.</p><p> </p><p>We have concluded
a public consultation to support regulations to implement administrative liability
orders. The Government published their response on 12 February 2024.</p><p> </p><p>Secondary
legislation is now being developed, which, once implemented, will reduce the process
from 22 weeks to as low as 6 weeks. This will be brought forward as soon as possible.</p>
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