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 West Virginia, child support is designed to cover the basic needs of a child, such as food, clothing, shelter, and education. The state's child support guidelines are established to ensure that these needs are met, but they do not provide an exhaustive list of expenses. While the guidelines may not specify costs like school supplies, health care, braces, transportation, daycare, and extracurricular activities, these can be considered additional expenses that the custodial parent may need to cover with child support payments. Parents are encouraged to discuss and agree upon how to handle these additional costs, especially since they can be a source of conflict. In West Virginia, child support obligations typically end when the child reaches the age of 18, graduates from high school, or becomes self-supporting, whichever occurs last, but not beyond the age of 20. College expenses are not typically included in child support obligations, but parents can plan for these costs through separate agreements or by setting up a 529 plan. It's important for parents to address the issue of college expenses during divorce proceedings or other legal agreements to ensure there is a clear understanding of each parent's responsibilities.