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 Montana, child support is governed by state statutes that establish guidelines to calculate the financial support owed by non-custodial parents. These guidelines take into account both parents' incomes, the needs of the child, and the time the child spends with each parent. Child support is intended to cover the basic needs of the child, such as food, clothing, shelter, and education. While the law provides a framework for the essential expenses, it does not always specify how to handle additional costs like school supplies, health care, braces, glasses, dental care, uninsured medical care, transportation, daycare, extracurricular activities, and social activities. These additional expenses are often addressed during the child support order process or through subsequent negotiations or court orders. Parents in Montana are encouraged to discuss and agree upon the handling of these expenses, possibly including them in the child support order or parenting plan. If parents cannot agree, they may seek a court's intervention to resolve the matter. It is advisable for parents to consult with an attorney to understand their rights and obligations regarding child support and related expenses in Montana.