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 Utah, child support is designed to cover a child's basic needs, which include food, housing, clothing, and medical care. Utah's child support guidelines are established under Utah Code Section 78B-12 and are used to calculate the amount of support based on the gross incomes of both parents, the number of children, and the custody arrangement. The guidelines presume that the calculated amount will cover the child's basic living expenses as well as ordinary medical expenses. However, extraordinary expenses, such as orthodontic work (braces), may not be automatically included in the basic child support calculation and may require additional agreements between the parents or a court order. Childcare costs related to employment or education of the custodial parent are typically included in the child support calculation. Costs for extracurricular activities, school supplies, and other educational expenses are not explicitly detailed in the statutes and may require separate negotiation or court intervention. Parents are encouraged to discuss and agree upon how to handle these additional expenses and may seek a modification of the child support order if necessary to address significant unforeseen costs. It is advisable for parents to consult with an attorney to draft a comprehensive agreement that addresses the division of these expenses and to ensure that any agreement is in line with Utah law and the best interests of the child.