FLR(M) - question about non-applying children

[coopd6]

Hi all

I have a query about the online FLR(M) form and I was hoping to get some advice. My wife is applying for FLR(M) as a spouse, along with her dependant daughter who is already with us in the UK. The form asks about non-applying children. My wife and I have had two children born in the UK since she has been here, so I have included them as non-applying children on the application, as they have British citizenship through me, and we can provide the necessary documents etc for them. My wife has a child who is resident in the Philippines with his biological father and is not part of the application. I initially included him in this section, but the form then asks many non-relevant questions ie date of entry to the UK, and asks for documents we would have no way of getting ie his father's utility bills. I assume then we would not include him as a non-applying child? Otherwise the form will not let me progress without adding bogus information. We did briefly mention him in the open text section about why some children are not included in the application, and just said he is resident in the Philippines and is not seeking to enter the UK. Does that sound correct?

The form then asks whether I as husband have any other children not included in the application. I pay child maintenance for a child from a prior relationship, but I am not listed on the birth certificate, have no contact with the child or mother, and have no contact details for them. If I answer yes, I am asked many questions about the child, most of which I don't know, and I'm asked for documents I would have no way of getting from the mother. Would I be better to answer no to this question, and then in the following question when it asks about any financial dependents not previously mentioned in the application, write the details there (as well as in our cover letter)? In the original spouse visa application, I answered yes to this question in the paper version of Appendix 2, but then it didn't have all of the follow up questions and document requirements.
Thanks in advance for any advice!

[coopd6]

Trawling back through previous posts, it seems a number of people have had similar a dilemma, but there is no real consensus for the situation in the second paragraph. Some people seem to have answered 'no' and then explained the situation in a cover letter. Others have answered 'yes' and have had to tick boxes saying they will provide documentation they know they can't get hold of, and provide dummy answers so the form can progress. Both options feel unsatisfactory in that they involve providing wrong information on the form. Really unsure what to do here!