Monthly child support covers a child's ordinary costs, but parenting involves plenty of expenses it doesn't. Daycare, braces, tutoring, and hockey fees can add up quickly, and how they get shared is one of the most common sources of disagreement between separated parents.
In Alberta, the basic child support amount covers ordinary expenses, while certain extra costs, called extraordinary expenses, are shared in proportion to each parent's income. These include child care, uninsured medical and dental costs, some educational and extracurricular costs, and post-secondary education. A family lawyer in Calgary can help set clear terms so these expenses don't become a recurring dispute.
The monthly amount set under the child support guidelines is meant to cover a child's ordinary living costs: food, clothing, housing, and everyday needs. Routine activities and typical school costs generally fall inside that amount too. That's why extra expenses have to be looked at separately, since the table amount wasn't designed to cover them.
Under section 7 of the Federal Child Support Guidelines, several categories of costs can be shared on top of basic support. These are commonly called extraordinary expenses, and the categories are specific rather than open-ended.
Child care costs are shareable when they arise because a parent is working, attending school or training, or is unable to care for the child due to illness or disability. Daycare, after-school care, and similar arrangements are typical examples. The amount is generally calculated after accounting for tax deductions related to those costs.
Health insurance premiums and health-related costs above a set annual threshold that aren't covered by insurance can be shared. That can include orthodontics, prescription costs, counselling, and other uninsured care.
Extraordinary costs for primary or secondary school can be shared where they meet the child's particular needs, such as a specialized program or a private school where the circumstances justify it. This isn't a blanket rule that any private school gets shared, since the expense must be necessary and reasonable.
Extraordinary extracurricular costs, such as competitive sports or a demanding arts program, can be shared, but the word extraordinary matters. Ordinary recreational activities are generally treated as covered by the basic support amount.
Costs of post-secondary education, including tuition, books, and living expenses, can be shared. The child may be expected to contribute too, through savings, scholarships, or work.
For most of these categories, the expense has to be necessary in relation to the child's best interests and reasonable in relation to the parents' and child's means. The family's spending pattern before separation is also considered. An expense that a parent takes on unilaterally, at a level the family never spent before, may not be shared automatically.
Once an expense qualifies, the cost is generally shared in proportion to each parent's income, after subtracting any subsidy or tax benefit connected to it. If one parent earns 60 percent of the combined income and the other 40 percent, they'd generally share a qualifying expense in that ratio. This is why an accurate, up-to-date income figure matters, and why the split may need adjusting as incomes change.
Even when parenting time is close to equal, and the basic support amount is adjusted, the sharing of extraordinary expenses generally still follows the income-proportion approach. Equal time doesn't necessarily mean equal expense sharing.
Most disputes come from vague arrangements, not from the categories themselves. A good separation agreement or order sets out:
| Expense | Included in Basic Support? | Shared Separately? |
| Food, clothing, housing | Yes | No |
| Daycare or after-school care tied to work or study | No | Yes, in proportion to income |
| Uninsured medical or dental costs above the threshold | No | Yes, in proportion to income |
| Ordinary recreational activities | Generally yes | Generally no |
| Extraordinary extracurriculars | No | Can be, if necessary and reasonable |
| Post-secondary education | No | Can be, with the child's contribution considered |
THEBIL Family Law helps parents identify which expenses should be shared, calculate each parent's share, and draft clear reimbursement terms into the agreement or order. A family lawyer in Calgary who spells out the process at the start saves parents from repeated disputes over receipts later.
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Ordinary costs are covered by basic child support, and extraordinary expenses like child care, uninsured health costs, and some education and activity costs are shared in proportion to each parent's income.
Generally not. They're usually shared in proportion to each parent's income, so a higher earner pays a larger share.
No. Child care costs tied to work or study are treated as a separate expense shared between parents.
Only if it qualifies as an extraordinary expense that's necessary and reasonable. Ordinary recreational activities are generally covered by basic support.
Yes, post-secondary costs can be shared between parents, and the child may be expected to contribute as well.
Not by law in every case, but a well-drafted agreement usually requires consultation above a set amount, which prevents disputes.
The percentage each parent contributes can be updated, which is why agreements often require annual income exchanges.
Yes. THEBIL Family Law drafts terms covering categories, approval, receipts, and reimbursement timelines.
Clear expense terms make co-parenting smoother and cut down on disputes. THEBIL Family Law can help you get them right. Book a consultation to talk through your situation.
