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 West Virginia, child support is designed to cover the basic needs of the child, which includes food, clothing, shelter, and education. The state's child support guidelines aim to ensure that children receive the financial support necessary from both parents, reflecting the proportion of each parent's income. While the guidelines provide a framework for calculating child support payments, they may not explicitly cover every specific expense related to raising a child, such as school supplies, health care, braces, glasses, dental care, uninsured medical care, transportation, daycare, and extracurricular activities. These additional expenses often require parents to communicate and negotiate outside of the basic child support calculation to determine how they will be divided. In cases where childcare is necessary for the custodial parent to work, seek training, or attend school, West Virginia 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 expenses to avoid future conflicts. An attorney can provide guidance on how to best approach these matters and ensure that any agreements are in line with state laws and the best interests of the child.