Extraordinary Child Expenses: What They Are and Who Pays?
Extraordinary child expenses are unpredictable, exceptional costs that go beyond the monthly maintenance allowance and are typically split 50/50 between single parents.
What are Extraordinary Expenses?
Extraordinary expenses are all those unpredictable, exceptional, or significant costs that are not included in the monthly maintenance allowance intended to cover only ordinary expenses like food and housing. \n\nIn 2026, case law consolidates the distinction between expenses requiring prior agreement between parents and mandatory expenses that must be reimbursed pro-rata usually 50% upon presentation of a tax receipt.
Detailed List of Common Expenses
To avoid conflicts, it's helpful to consult the court tables updated to 2026, which divide these outlays into three macro-categories:\n\n1. School Expenses: University fees, school trips with overnight stays, remedial courses, purchase of textbooks and school supplies at the start of the year.\n2. Medical Expenses: Specialist visits not covered by the National Health Service, orthodontic treatments, eyeglasses, surgical procedures, and psychotherapy.\n3. Leisure and Sports Expenses: Gym or sports club memberships, valuable sports equipment, music or theater classes, and vacations spent with the single parent if agreed upon.\n\nFor a detailed list of covered reimbursements, read our /guide/list-extraordinary-expenses-court.
The Difference Between Mandatory and Optional Expenses
Not all extraordinary expenses require the other parent's prior "yes" for reimbursement.\n\n Without prior agreement: Urgent medical expenses, prescribed medications, mandatory school fees, and health tickets. These must be documented and are mandatory reimbursements.\n With prior agreement: Foreign language courses, sailing or sports summer camps, non-essential extracurricular activities. In this case, the parent incurring the expense must send a formal communication email or certified email and await consent usually within 10-15 days before proceeding.\n\nIf you have questions about how to request reimbursement, consult our guide at /faq/procedure-reimbursement-expenses.
How to Document and Request Reimbursement
It is essential that the reimbursement request is accompanied by valid expense receipts for 2026 invoices, itemized receipts, fiscal receipts. The law requires the parent who advanced the sum to send the documentation to the other within a reasonable timeframe.\n\nIn case of non-payment, the receipt serves as a basis for legal action without having to renegotiate the separation or divorce decree. Also, remember that many of these expenses may be eligible for tax deductions on your 2026 tax return.\n\nTo learn more about managing financial conflicts, visit the section /blog/managing-financial-conflicts-parents.