Extraordinary Maintenance Expenses: Definition and Types

Extraordinary expenses are unpredictable or exceptional costs for children that go beyond regular monthly child support and are typically shared between parents.

Definition of Extraordinary Expenses

Extraordinary maintenance expenses are those outlays for children that, due to their unpredictable, exceptional, or significant nature, are not included in the fixed monthly amount of /glossary/child-support/glossary/child-support. These are costs related to events that are not foreseeable or do not occur on a regular basis.

Application and Division Between Parents

In the context of single parenting, these expenses are typically divided between parents on a percentage basis often 50%, according to court protocols or separation agreements. They generally fall into two categories: Mandatory/Unavoidable Expenses: e.g., school taxes, medical co-pays which do not require prior agreement. Expenses Requiring Consent: e.g., study trips, sports, cosmetic surgery which require prior consultation between parents. Managing these costs often requires the presentation of expense justifications receipts or invoices to obtain reimbursement from the other parent.