We aim to keep our website simple, transparent and privacy-conscious. This policy explains the types of cookies and similar technologies that may be used, including those associated with website functionality, analytics and advertising.
1. Introduction
This Cookie Policy applies to Child Maintenance Calculator UK, accessible at https://child-maintenance-calculator.co.uk/ .
Child Maintenance Calculator UK is an independent information website providing child maintenance estimates and educational resources for parents in the United Kingdom.
This policy describes how cookies and similar technologies may be used when you access our website, the reasons they are used and your available choices.
This policy should be read alongside our Privacy Policy .
2. What Are Cookies?
Cookies are small text files that websites can store on a user's device through a web browser.
Cookies can support functions such as remembering preferences, maintaining sessions, measuring website activity and delivering advertisements.
Some cookies are set by the website you are visiting. Others may be set by third-party services integrated with that website.
First-Party Cookies
First-party cookies are generally set by the website's own domain. They may be used to support essential functionality and remember permitted preferences.
Third-Party Cookies
Third-party cookies may be set by external services, such as advertising platforms, analytics providers or embedded content providers.
Similar Technologies
Websites may also use technologies such as local storage, session storage, pixels and other device identifiers.
Applicable privacy and cookie requirements can also cover these technologies, even when they are not technically cookies.
3. Categories of Cookies
Cookies and similar technologies can be grouped by purpose. The categories below explain common uses; they do not mean that every category is currently active on our website.
Strictly Necessary Cookies
These support functions that are necessary for an expressly requested service or the operation of essential website features.
Depending on the website's configuration, they may support security, session management or permitted consent preferences.
Functional Cookies
These may remember optional preferences or support enhanced website features.
Whether consent is required depends on the specific technology and applicable legal exceptions.
Analytics Cookies
Analytics technologies can help website operators understand page usage, traffic sources, technical issues and visitor interactions.
Where analytics technologies require consent, they should not be activated until the required consent is obtained.
Advertising Cookies
Advertising technologies may support ad delivery, frequency management, measurement and, where permitted, personalisation.
Advertising partners may process cookies or similar identifiers according to their own documented purposes and applicable consent requirements.
4. Cookies Used on Our Website
The actual cookies and similar technologies used depend on the WordPress configuration, hosting provider, security tools, consent management service and optional third-party integrations.
Before publishing the final version of this policy, the website operator must complete a cookie audit and document the technologies actually in use.
| Category | Purpose | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Strictly Necessary | Essential website functions, where used | Verify actual cookies and applicable exceptions |
| Functional | Optional preferences and enhanced features | Confirm if enabled |
| Analytics | Website usage and performance measurement | Confirm if enabled |
| Advertising | Advertising delivery, measurement and personalisation | Planned for future use; verify before activation |
Replace this provisional category-level table with a verified cookie inventory before publishing the final legal policy. Include cookie or storage names, providers, purposes, durations and relevant consent information.
The website's installed consent management platform may provide a detailed, automatically maintained cookie declaration.
5. Child Maintenance Calculator Functionality
Our main child maintenance calculator is designed to perform calculations locally in your web browser.
Calculator inputs may include gross income, pension contributions, the number of children and overnight shared-care arrangements.
Privacy by Design: The intended calculator implementation performs calculations in the browser without sending the entered financial or childcare values to our server.
The calculator itself does not require visitors to register an account to obtain estimates.
Any future feature that stores calculations, uses browser storage or transmits submitted details must be assessed separately and reflected in this policy.
6. Analytics and Website Measurement
The website may use analytics services to understand technical performance and how visitors use its content.
Google Analytics 4 or another analytics provider may be introduced or enabled as part of website management.
Where these services use non-essential cookies or similar technologies requiring consent, appropriate consent controls must be implemented.
Google Search Console may also be used to review website performance in Google Search. Its use by a site operator does not, by itself, mean that visitor tracking cookies are placed on the public website.
Analytics provider details, cookie names and durations must be verified against the actual deployment.
7. Advertising Cookies and Google AdSense
Child Maintenance Calculator UK may introduce display advertising through Google AdSense in the future.
When advertising services are enabled, relevant technologies may support advertising delivery, performance measurement, frequency management and personalisation.
Advertising partners may process information such as IP addresses, device information, cookies and similar identifiers, depending on the services enabled and user choices.
Advertising Consent
Before activating applicable advertising technologies, appropriate consent management and privacy disclosures must be configured.
Google requires publishers serving personalised ads to users in the UK and European Economic Area to use a Google-certified Consent Management Platform integrated with the IAB Transparency and Consent Framework.
Further information is available in Google's advertising technologies information .
8. Third-Party Cookies and Services
Some website functionality may be supplied by third-party services.
Depending on the actual website configuration, these may include:
- WordPress hosting and security service providers
- Consent management platform providers
- Analytics service providers, if enabled
- Advertising service providers, if enabled
- Embedded content providers, if used
- Contact form or anti-spam services
External services may have their own privacy policies and cookie information.
Before enabling a new integration, the website operator should review the technology and update relevant privacy disclosures.
9. Cookie Consent
Where legally required, visitors must be given meaningful information and a genuine choice before non-essential cookies and similar technologies are used.
Consent should involve a clear affirmative action and should not be inferred solely because a visitor continues browsing.
Where consent is required, visitors should have suitable options to accept, reject or manage relevant non-essential purposes.
Consent should also be capable of being withdrawn through an accessible mechanism.
Important: Cookie preferences must be enforced by a working consent management system. This Cookie Policy does not itself activate, block or remove tracking technologies.
10. Managing Your Cookie Preferences
Where consent-based technologies are enabled, the website should provide a working mechanism to review and update cookie preferences.
Once a Consent Management Platform has been installed, its preference-management control should be accessible from the website, including through a link in the footer or on this page.
The live cookie preference control must be supplied by the website's installed consent management platform. Configure that integration before presenting a "Manage Cookie Preferences" button to visitors.
You can also review the website's Privacy Policy for further information about personal data.
11. Managing Cookies Through Your Browser
Most modern browsers provide settings for viewing, deleting or blocking cookies.
You may also be able to remove website storage data or configure tracking protection settings.
Instructions are available from your browser provider:
Disabling some cookies may affect certain website functions.
Browser settings are an additional privacy control and do not replace any consent mechanism the website is legally required to provide.
12. How Long Do Cookies Last?
Cookie lifetimes vary according to their purpose and configuration.
Session Cookies
These are generally intended to expire when the browser session ends.
Persistent Cookies
These may remain on a device for a defined period or until they are deleted, depending on browser behaviour.
Exact durations should be included in the verified cookie inventory or consent platform's cookie declaration.
13. Changes to This Cookie Policy
We may update this policy when website functionality changes, new services are enabled, cookie usage changes or applicable requirements evolve.
Updated versions will display the relevant review or publication date.
Where necessary, changes to cookie purposes or providers may also require renewed consent.
14. Contact Us
If you have questions about this Cookie Policy or technologies used on our website, please contact the website operator.
Website: child-maintenance-calculator.co.uk
Website Operator: [INSERT REAL BUSINESS OR LEGAL NAME]
Contact Email: [INSERT VERIFIED CONTACT EMAIL]
You can also visit our Contact Us page.
Questions About Cookies?
Contact the website operator for further information about this policy and website privacy practices.
Contact Us →