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 South Dakota, child support is governed by state statutes that establish guidelines to calculate the financial support owed by the noncustodial parent. These guidelines take into account the income of both parents and the needs of the child, aiming to cover basic necessities such as food, clothing, shelter, and education. While the law provides a framework for the essential expenses, it does not typically itemize discretionary costs such as school supplies, extracurricular activities, or social events. These additional expenses often require parents to communicate and negotiate outside of the statutory guidelines. In cases where the custodial parent incurs childcare expenses due to work, training, or school, South Dakota law may require the noncustodial parent to contribute to these costs, potentially up to 50%. It is advisable for parents to discuss and agree upon the handling of these extra expenses and include such agreements in their child support arrangements or court orders to prevent future conflicts.