Section 7 Expenses BC: How Extraordinary Child Costs Are Split After Separation

Basic child support in BC covers everyday needs — housing, food, clothing. But what about hockey registration, braces, a private school tuition bill, or after-school daycare? These fall under Section 7 of the Federal Child Support Guidelines, and they're shared differently than the base support amount.

If you're negotiating a parenting agreement in BC, understanding how Section 7 expenses work prevents arguments later — and prevents one parent from shouldering costs the other should share.

What Qualifies as a Section 7 Expense

The Federal Child Support Guidelines define six categories of special or extraordinary expenses:

1. Childcare — daycare, before/after-school care, nanny costs required for the custodial parent to work or attend school
2. Healthcare premiums — medical and dental insurance premiums attributable to the child
3. Extraordinary health-related expenses — orthodontics, therapy, prescription medications not covered by insurance
4. Primary and secondary school tuition — private school, French immersion fees, or special education costs
5. Post-secondary education — tuition, books, residence fees
6. Extraordinary extracurricular activities — organized sports, music lessons, art classes, camps

The key word is "extraordinary." Regular extracurriculars that fit within a family's normal spending aren't automatically Section 7 expenses. Courts look at the total cost relative to the family's income and the child's pre-separation lifestyle. If both parents agreed to competitive hockey at $4,000 per year before separation, it's likely a Section 7 expense. A new $800 pottery class probably isn't.

How the Split Is Calculated

Section 7 expenses are shared proportionally based on each parent's income — not split 50/50. The formula is straightforward:

Your share = your income ÷ combined income × the expense amount

If Parent A earns $90,000 and Parent B earns $60,000, the combined income is $150,000. Parent A's proportional share is 60%, Parent B's is 40%. A $3,000 orthodontics bill would be split $1,800 / $1,200.

This proportional split applies regardless of how parenting time is divided. Even in a 50/50 shared parenting arrangement, the higher-earning parent pays a larger percentage of Section 7 costs.

Common Disputes and How to Avoid Them

The most frequent Section 7 fights come from three gaps in the parenting agreement:

No pre-approval requirement. Without a clause requiring both parents to agree before enrolling a child in an expensive activity, one parent can sign the child up for a $5,000 program and demand the other parent pay their share. Include a written consent requirement for any expense above a set dollar threshold.

Unclear what counts. Vague language like "reasonable extracurricular activities" guarantees disagreement. List specific categories and spending limits in your agreement.

No receipt exchange process. If one parent pays upfront, they need a way to recover the other parent's share. Set a timeline — receipts submitted within 30 days, reimbursement within 14 days — and specify how receipts are shared (email, shared folder).

Putting It in Your Parenting Plan

The British Columbia Custody & Parenting Plan Guide includes an expense-sharing calculator worksheet that walks through Section 7 categorization, proportional splits, and pre-approval clauses — designed so both parents can fill it in before mediation or a court filing.

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