Ontario general information. Sources checked 3 October 2026.
An invoice shows what was charged. It does not, by itself, establish that the other parent must share the cost. If childcare, treatment, education or activities are in dispute, prepare a record that distinguishes the expense, its purpose, the amount paid and the question you need answered.
Start with the arrangement already in place
Keep the full support order or agreement with your records. Highlight any terms about expenses, notice, consent, receipts, reimbursement and income updates. Include later amendments. Record whether a cost is already addressed by a specific clause rather than assuming every expense follows the same rule.
Make a separate list of disputed interpretations. For example, one person may believe a prior discussion covered a whole school year while the other understood it to cover one term. Keep the relevant communications intact; a summary should point to the record rather than replace it. A new spreadsheet does not amend the existing arrangement.
Give each expense a clear entry
Use a table with the following columns:
| Record | What to include |
|---|---|
| Expense and child | Provider, purpose and the child concerned; use initials in working copies where appropriate |
| Period | Service dates or the school/activity term |
| Charge and payment | Invoice amount, amount paid, date and payment reference |
| Assistance | Insurance reimbursement, subsidy or other benefit, with supporting records |
| Communication | When the cost was proposed or discussed and where that message is saved |
| Question | Agreed, disputed or still unclear |
Keep an invoice separate from proof of payment. If a cost is only estimated, mark it as an estimate. Do not enter a reimbursement twice or describe an amount still owing to a provider as already paid.
Ask about eligibility before assuming a split
Section 7 of the Federal Child Support Guidelines addresses special or extraordinary expenses. It considers necessity and reasonableness and sets out expense categories; not every purchase for a child qualifies. Its sharing principle refers to the parents’ respective incomes, a child’s contribution, and relevant assistance or tax considerations. This is not a universal fifty-fifty rule. Ask which guidelines apply and how the existing document affects your situation. Federal Guidelines, section 7.
For a proposed expense, collect the available quote and explain why it is being considered. For a recurring expense, record the period and whether the amount has changed. For insurance or tax information you do not understand, identify the uncertainty rather than guessing the net cost.
Keep the legal and practical questions separate
Useful questions include: does this type of expense fall within the applicable rules; what information is missing; what notice or consent does the arrangement require; which amount is actually in dispute; and how should a reimbursement request be handled? Do not stop or reduce another payment simply to balance your own spreadsheet.
Use the financial-disclosure preparation guide for the broader income and document picture. See Spousal & Child Support for the firm’s related practice information. To ask whether the firm can assist, contact the office. An inquiry does not confirm representation or change a deadline.
Keep invoices, children’s health information, account details and tax records out of public comments. Ask the office how documents should be provided before sending sensitive material. This guide does not calculate an entitlement, select the applicable guidelines or provide advice about your expense.