Changes
42.The Act introduces several changes to enforcement powers, with both changes to existing powers and new powers introduced. Changes to existing powers include:
regulations may provide for a deduction from earnings order to be specified as an initial method of collection unless there is a good reason not to in a particular case; and
liability orders will be administrative and will no longer require an application to a magistrates’ court or the sheriff.
43.New powers to be introduced include:
a regular deduction order applied to an account (including a joint account) held by the non-resident parent with a deposit-taker such as a bank, which can be used to take regular deductions to collect on going child maintenance and/or arrears;
a lump sum deduction order which can be used to collect arrears through a single deduction directly from an account of the non-resident parent (including a joint account), held with a deposit taker or third party such as conveyancer;
the ability to apply to the High Court in England and Wales (or, in Scotland, the Court of Session or the sheriff) to freeze property held by a non-resident parent, or to set aside a disposition;
the ability to apply to the magistrates’ court in England and Wales (or, in Scotland, the sheriff) for the imposition of a curfew on a non-resident parent, which will be monitored; and
the ability to apply to the magistrates’ court in England and Wales (or, in Scotland, the sheriff) to disqualify a non-resident parent from holding or obtaining a travel authorisation, which may be a UK passport and/or an ID card issued under the Identity Cards Act 2006 that records that the person to whom it is issued is a British Citizen.