I agree to pay the amount asked for.

What do I do?

If, after receiving the application, you agree to pay what has been applied for you should be able to come to an agreement privately with the applicant. If you have reached an agreement then you should write into the court to inform them.

You can then either proceed with a private agreement without a court order, or you can request that an order be made administratively. Be aware if you continue with a private agreement, the court will have nothing on record to enforce if the applicant then subsequently says you have not paid what you said you would. It is also better to have it on record so the applicant can’t attempt to change the terms of the agreement whenever they want to.

It is recommended that you request the payments go through the Chief Registrar, so the court will have an exact record of how much has been paid when. If you wish your maintenance payments to be paid through the Chief Registrar then you must ask the court: they cannot advise you to ask for this. If you have not requested payments through the Chief Registrar in your application, then make it known to the Deemster at the directions hearing that this is what you wish to happen. This is particularly advantageous as it can be kept as a complete record of your payments history if the applicant states that you haven’t been paying what the order says you should be.

What if I can't afford to pay the amount asked for straight away?

If you agree in principle to the amount stated in the application, but are unable for some reason to begin payments straight away, or are unable to pay the full amount straight away, then you should bring the matter into the court. The Deemster will then consider your situation concerning the payment options and make an order.