my father lives abroad and has done for many years. he has never paid maintenance to my mother for us children, i am old enough to fend for myself now but should he still be paying towards their upbringing. i dont think its fair that he lives the life of luxury and my mum can only try her best (which is more than enough, as we had a great and loving childhood.)
But it is near impossible to enforce maintenance payments on somebody who lives abroad - they do not fall within the jurisdiction (the authority) of the UK legal system.