⚖️ Enforcement Mechanism

The Enforcement Mechanism ensures that parenting agreements are respected — without defaulting to state control or bureaucracy. If a parent fails to meet their responsibilities under a Parental Responsibility Agreement (PRA), enforcement is treated like any other civil contract breach.

This is a civil, consent-based alternative to the current state-run enforcement system. When both parties voluntarily sign a PRA — which defines parenting terms like financial support or contact — that agreement becomes legally binding.

If one parent fails to uphold their side of the deal, the other can seek enforcement through accessible civil remedies.

• Contract Enforcement, Not State Coercion PRAs are enforced like standard contracts. If breached, parents can apply to civil court for remedies such as:
  • Payment orders
  • Wage deductions
  • Debt recovery (if applicable)
• Digital Fast-Track for Financial Terms A valid PRA can be uploaded to an approved platform. If payments are missed:
  • A digital notice can trigger wage deductions, similar to how student loan repayments are automatically collected via PAYE. This ensures enforcement is efficient, predictable, and proportionate — without intrusive bureaucracy.
  • Self-employed contributors report their monthly profit through the same secure system used for declarations and agreements, with an annual reconciliation against HMRC tax returns to ensure fairness and accuracy.
  • Disputes can be appealed, but enforcement proceeds unless overturned
• Legal Aid Where Needed Means-tested legal aid is available for those facing genuine hardship — ensuring vulnerable families aren’t left behind.
• State Involvement Only When Necessary Government enforcement only applies in cases involving:
  • Proven abuse
  • Risk to the child
  • Criminal activity
• A limited role for the state is essential — not to control family life, but to uphold consent, manage secure systems, and ensure compliance where harm or abandonment occurs. The state’s role is administrative and protective, not paternalistic.

• No More Bureaucratic Failures The current CMS is costly, complex, and often ineffective. Civil enforcement is quicker and more predictable.
• Equality and Accountability Both parties are treated as capable adults — each bound by what they agreed to.
• Protects Without Punishing Rather than chasing people with state threats, this model focuses on upholding voluntary, informed commitments.

Under today’s system, enforcement is often slow, inconsistent, or adversarial. Many parents — especially those owed support — are left powerless. Others are punished by systems they never agreed to be part of.

This model removes the state from ordinary disputes and ensures that those who do commit to parenting can rely on their agreement being respected — without unnecessary delay or drama.