Section 7 expenses: how special child expenses are shared in Canada
Updated October 2, 2026 · General information, not legal advice
Section 7 of the Federal Child Support Guidelines covers special or extraordinary expenses on top of regular child support, such as child care, some health costs, and extraordinary education or activity costs. They're usually shared in proportion to each parent's income, after any subsidies or tax benefits.
What counts
The Guidelines list the kinds of expense that can be shared, including:
- Child care needed because of the work, illness, disability, or education or training for work of the parent who has most of the parenting time
- The child's share of medical and dental insurance premiums
- Health-related costs not covered by insurance, such as orthodontics, counselling, prescriptions or glasses, above a minimum amount
- Extraordinary costs for primary or secondary school, or programs for a child's particular needs
- Post-secondary education
- Extraordinary extracurricular activities
A court looks at whether an expense is necessary for the child's best interests, and whether it's reasonable given the parents' and child's means and how the family spent before the separation. What's "extraordinary" often depends on the family's income.
How it's split
The usual starting point is in proportion to the parents' incomes. If one parent earns $60,000 and the other $40,000, they'd typically share 60/40, after taking off any subsidies, tax deductions or credits for the expense. Your agreement or court order may set a different split; follow it.
Where arguments start
Most disputes aren't about the split. They're about whether the other parent agreed before the money was spent. Many agreements say costs over a set amount need both parents' consent in advance. Asking in writing, quoting the clause, and getting a reply before you commit avoids most of the fight.
Provinces have their own versions
Most provinces and territories have child support guidelines that follow the federal model, and Quebec has its own system. Check which guidelines apply to your family, and what your agreement says.
Use the expense split calculator (free)
Questions
Are hockey or dance fees a section 7 expense?
They can be, if they're extraordinary for your family's circumstances. Ordinary activity costs are generally expected to come out of regular child support. Your agreement may list specific activities.
Do I need the other parent's permission before spending?
The Guidelines don't require it, but many agreements do for costs over a set amount, and spending without asking is the most common source of disputes.
How do I calculate each parent's share?
Usually in proportion to incomes: divide each parent's income by the total. The free expense split calculator does this for you.
Tandem sends pre-approval requests that quote your agreement's clause, show each parent's share and set a reply-by date, so expenses get agreed before they're spent.
Sources: Federal Child Support Guidelines (SOR/97-175), Justice Laws Website. Laws and official guidance change; check the source and speak to a lawyer about your situation.