Legal advice..more than anything it shows the ex you are serious as if she is used to living on your money she'll not be best pleased you've decided to use it yourself (hence csa related threat)...

Make sure you have documentary evidence that you've paid her mortgage/deposits to her bank account or whatever it was or you might get charged backpay...*edit* doh didn't see your post above about internet transfers before I posted this!*

Plus with regards to access it's best to get it settled out of court to avoid costs/trauma & stress to the child...so solicitors usually act as go-betweens for this..for no other reason than that they know where their client stands legally and theres less ''well you said'' bollocks you get with ex couples.