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.

In Maryland, child support is calculated using the Maryland Child Support Guidelines, which consider the income of both parents, the number of children, and the cost of health insurance, child care, and extraordinary medical expenses. The guidelines are designed to cover the child's basic needs, including food, clothing, and shelter. While the guidelines provide a formula for calculating support, they do not explicitly outline how to handle additional expenses such as school supplies, extracurricular activities, and social activities. These costs are often addressed during the child support determination process, where parents can agree on how to share these expenses. If parents cannot agree, the court may decide based on what it deems to be in the best interest of the child. It is important for parents to discuss and include provisions for these additional expenses in their child support agreement or seek a court order that specifies each parent's responsibilities. An attorney can provide guidance on how to navigate these issues and ensure that a fair and comprehensive child support arrangement is in place.