Child maintenance refers to the financial support parents will make to help with the upbringing and care of their children. Parents can choose to make informal arrangements or seek advice from the Child Maintenance Service who will make a calculation and oversee the collection and distribution of child maintenance payments. For further information read Child maintenance.
Child custody refers to the arrangements for deciding which parent will look after the children after you separate from your partner. Following a divorce, dissolution or separation, most parents will make their own informal arrangements regarding who their children will live with, how often the other parent can see them and who will oversee the day-to-day upbringing for their children. However, if separating parents can't agree to an informal arrangement then the courts can intervene and issue a Child arrangement order. Alternatively, the parents can voluntarily choose to use a family mediation service to help them come to a mutual agreement. For further information read Child custody.