ABSTRACT
If these normative gUidelines are applied to the findings already presented in Chapter 11, then there is evidence that the financial obligations were negotiated. Fathers did prioritise their financial obligations, select others to financially support their non-resident children, decide it was not the right time in their lives to pay maintenance and based their willingness to pay, at least in part, on reciprocal exchanges with mothers,
particularly over contact with children. For example, the willing payers, most of whom had contact, found their maintenance payments useful in maintaining contact with children as it 'eased' relationships with mothers. These payments therefore helped balance reciprocal exchanges with mothers and fathers were willing to pay.
