Petition · Ministry of Justice

Stop Child Maintenance if parents are denied access to their children

Closed 221 signatures

What the petition asks

We believe that parents, often Fathers, across the UK are paying child maintenance while being unfairly denied access to their children and we want this to change.
We are calling on the UK Government to introduce a new law that:
- Links child maintenance to parental access – If a parent is refused access without a valid reason, payments should be paused until fair contact is arranged
- Encourages fair co-parenting – Prevents one parent from using the child as leverage
- Reduces legal costs – Parents should not have to pay mediation and court fees just to see their child

Timeline

4 Apr 2025 Petition opened for signatures
4 Oct 2025 Closed to new signatures

Key facts

Signatures 221
Status Closed
Department Ministry of Justice
Opened 4 Apr 2025
Closed 4 Oct 2025

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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 8 Aug 2026.