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, 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.

Because child support obligations generally end when the child turns 18, moves to attend college, dies, or gets married, college expenses are generally not child support obligations. But because college tuition and the associated living expenses are substantial, some parents attempt to address these costs in divorce or other legal proceedings. Depending on the age of the child at the time of divorce and the parents’ financial resources, the funding of a 529 plan (qualified tuition plan) for the child is one option for parents to consider.

In North Carolina, child support is intended to cover the basic needs of a child, including food, clothing, shelter, and education. The North Carolina Child Support Guidelines provide a framework for determining the amount of child support to be paid, which is based on the incomes of both parents and the needs of the child. While the guidelines do not list every specific expense, they do account for the child's health insurance and related medical costs, as well as work-related child care costs. Expenses such as school supplies, extracurricular activities, and other similar costs are not explicitly detailed in the guidelines and are often handled on a case-by-case basis. Parents are encouraged to discuss and agree upon the handling of these additional expenses during custody and support negotiations. Regarding post-secondary education, North Carolina does not typically require parents to contribute to college costs as part of child support obligations. However, parents can voluntarily agree to set up a 529 plan or make other arrangements for college expenses as part of their separation agreement or other legal proceedings. It is important for parents to address these issues proactively to avoid future conflicts.