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 New Mexico, child support is intended to cover the basic needs of a child, such as food, clothing, shelter, and education. The state follows the Income Shares Model, which means that child support payments are based on the income of both parents and the number of children. The New Mexico Child Support Enforcement Division (CSED) provides guidelines for calculating child support, but these guidelines do not typically itemize specific child-rearing costs like school supplies, health care, or extracurricular activities. Parents are encouraged to discuss and agree upon how to handle these additional expenses. While child support obligations in New Mexico generally end when the child reaches the age of majority (18 years old), graduates from high school, or becomes emancipated, college expenses are not typically included in child support. However, parents can make arrangements for college expenses, such as contributing to a 529 plan, during divorce or legal proceedings. It's important for parents to address these issues proactively to avoid future conflicts.