For many parents, child care is one of the largest costs of raising a child. It can consume a major share of a paycheck and force families to make hard decisions about work, schedules, savings, and household spending. When parents are together, these costs are often managed as part of the family budget. After a separation or divorce, however, child care expenses can become one of the most important financial issues that affect parents.

Child care is not just a convenience. For many families, it is what allows parents to work, attend school, go to job training, or maintain a stable income. When parents separate, courts often have to decide how these costs should be divided. The decisions will depend on state law, each parent’s income, the child’s needs, and whether the expenses are reasonable and necessary.

The Costs of Raising a Child in 2026, Broken Down

Recent figures from LendingTree show just how expensive raising a child has become. The report, which takes data from the U.S. Census Bureau and the Bureau of Labor Statistics, factors in different costs based on a married, two-earner household. Some key findings include:

• The average annual cost of raising a child adds up to roughly $16,857.
• Infant day care is estimated to cost $17,264 per year.
• The total cost of raising a child adds up to $303,418 over 18 years.

Day care is often most expensive when a child is very young, but the costs do not disappear once the child starts school. Parents still have to budget for before-school care, after-school care, summer programs, sick days, school breaks, clothing, food, transportation, rent, health insurance, medical care, and activities. When one household splits into two, both parents often feel the pressure.

Do Both Parents Have a Responsibility to Pay for Child Care?

In many cases, both parents are expected to contribute to child care costs after a divorce or separation. A court will usually look at why the child care is needed. If the cost allows a parent to work, attend school, or look for work, it is more likely to be treated as a necessary expense.

Responsibility for child care does not always mean each parent pays exactly half of these expenses. The court may divide the cost based on each parent’s income. For example, if one parent earns much more than the other, that parent may be ordered to pay a larger share. If both parents earn similar incomes, the expenses may be divided more evenly.

Parents can also agree on how to handle child care. Some parenting agreements state which provider will be used, how costs will be shared, when payments are due, and what happens if one parent wants to change providers. Clear terms can prevent conflict later. Without clear rules, parents may argue over whether a certain day care, babysitter, camp, or after-school program is necessary or is too expensive.

The Importance of Paternity for Child Care

Before a court can order both parents to pay child support or contribute to child care, legal parentage may need to be established. For married parents, parentage will typically be presumed. For unmarried parents, paternity may need to be confirmed through a voluntary acknowledgment, court order, or genetic testing, depending on state law.

Establishing parentage is important because it gives the child access to financial support from both parents. It can also help protect the child’s right to benefits, inheritance, health insurance, and a legal relationship with both sides of the family.

What Expenses Can Child Support Cover After a Divorce?

Child support is meant to help pay for a child’s regular needs. The money is for the child’s benefit, even though it is usually paid to the parent who has the child for more parenting time or who is responsible for more day-to-day expenses.

Depending on the state and the court’s orders, child support can help cover housing, food, clothing, school supplies, transportation, medical expenses, health insurance, and basic household costs related to the child. Child care may be included in the basic support amount in some places, or it may be treated as an additional expense that parents divide separately.

A parent who pays child support may still have to contribute to day care, medical bills, extracurricular activities, or school costs if their child support order says those expenses are separate. A parent who receives child support should also understand exactly what the order covers, so he or she can ask for help with additional costs when allowed by law.

How Much Will I Receive in Child Support?

Each state has its own guidelines, formulas, and rules for child support. However, many courts look at similar basic factors. These often include each parent’s net income, the number of children, the costs of health insurance, child care costs, parenting time, and any special needs the child has.

Net income is especially important. This usually means income after certain deductions, though each state may handle these deductions differently. Courts may review wages, salary, bonuses, commissions, self-employment income, unemployment benefits, disability benefits, or other sources of money. When a parent is not working, the court may ask why. If a parent is unemployed or underemployed by choice, the court may order them to pay an amount of child support that is based on their earning ability.

The amount of time each parent will spend with children may also affect the amount of support. In some states, a parent who has a certain number of overnights with their children may be required to pay less than a parent with limited parenting time. The specific calculations will depend on state laws.

How Can Parents Collect Unpaid Child Support in 2026?

Unpaid child support can place enormous strain on a parent who is trying to cover a child’s daily needs. Rent, groceries, school costs, and child care bills do not pause when support payments stop. For this reason, courts and state agencies have several tools to enforce child support orders.

One common method is wage garnishment, sometimes called income withholding. This allows child support to be taken directly from the paying parent’s wages before the money reaches that parent. Tax refunds can also be intercepted in some cases. States can suspend driver’s licenses, professional licenses, recreational licenses, or passports when support remains unpaid. Courts can also hold a parent in contempt for refusing to obey a valid child support order. In serious cases, a parent could face fines or jail time.

Unpaid child support does not simply go away when a child turns 18. Past-due support can still be collected after the child reaches adulthood. The child may be grown, but the debt remains tied to the years when support should have been paid.

Disclaimer: This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Laws regarding child support, child custody, and child care expenses vary by state and individual circumstances. Readers should consult a qualified family law attorney in their jurisdiction for guidance specific to their situation.