Child support is generally intended to help with the costs of raising the child—including food, clothing, shelter, and education—but laws vary from state to state and are often unclear on the extent to which child support payments are intended to help the custodial parent pay for half of school supplies, health care, braces, glasses, dental care, uninsured medical care, transportation (car), daycare, sports camps, cheerleading camps, school trips, social activities, and extracurricular activities.

Most state laws (statutes) don’t identify the specific child-rearing costs to which the custodial parent is required to contribute payment from child support and other resources—and because these issues are frequently the source of parental conflict, parents should identify all expected future costs and agree to the process for sharing them.

Childcare expenses incurred by the custodial parent are generally not required to be paid by the noncustodial parent in addition to child support—unless the childcare is required for the custodial parent’s work, training, or school—in which case the noncustodial parent may be required to pay for 50% of the childcare, for example.

In Illinois, child support is governed by state statutes designed to ensure that children receive adequate financial support from their parents. The Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act provides guidelines for determining the amount of child support, which typically covers basic necessities such as food, clothing, shelter, and education. While the law does not list every specific child-rearing expense, it does recognize that children should share in the standard of living of both parents. Therefore, additional expenses such as health care, dental care, vision care, extracurricular activities, and school-related costs may also be considered. Childcare expenses necessary for the custodial parent to work, seek employment, attend training, or go to school can be factored into the child support calculation, and the noncustodial parent may be required to contribute to these costs. It is important for parents to discuss and agree upon how to handle the sharing of these additional expenses to avoid conflicts. If parents cannot agree, the court may decide based on the best interests of the child. An attorney can provide specific guidance on how Illinois law would apply to individual circumstances regarding child support and related expenses.