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 Oregon, child support is designed to cover a child's basic needs, which include food, clothing, shelter, and education. The state's child support guidelines take into account both parents' incomes and the needs of the child to determine the appropriate amount of support. While the guidelines provide a framework, they do not explicitly itemize every potential expense related to raising a child. Costs such as school supplies, health care, orthodontics, glasses, dental care, uninsured medical expenses, transportation, daycare, and extracurricular activities are generally expected to be covered by child support payments, but the specifics can vary depending on the circumstances of each case. If parents anticipate significant expenses beyond basic needs, it is advisable for them to discuss and agree upon how to handle these costs, potentially including them in the child support order or parenting plan. In cases of disagreement, the family court may need to intervene to determine how these additional expenses will be shared. It is important for parents to keep in mind that the primary goal of child support is to ensure the well-being and best interests of the child.