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 Missouri, child support is intended to cover the basic needs of a child, which includes food, clothing, housing, and educational expenses. The state uses a set of guidelines, known as the Missouri Child Support Guidelines, to calculate the amount of support that should be paid, taking into account the income of both parents and the needs of the child. While the guidelines provide a framework for determining child support, they do not explicitly list every expense related to raising a child. Costs such as health care, dental care, vision care, extracurricular activities, and school-related expenses are generally expected to be covered by child support payments, but the specifics can vary depending on the circumstances of each case. If parents are unable to agree on the division of these additional costs, the matter may be brought before a court, and a judge will decide based on the best interests of the child. Parents are encouraged to include provisions for these expenses in their parenting plan or settlement agreement to minimize future conflicts.