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Reimbursement

Repayment of the other parent’s share of a shared expense you covered. Dated requests, receipts, and a running ledger turn reimbursement from a recurring argument into arithmetic.

What reimbursement means

Reimbursement is repayment of the other parent's share of a shared expense you paid up front. When one parent covers a cost that both are responsible for under the order or agreement, like an uncovered medical bill or an activity fee, they are typically owed the other parent's portion back.

Reimbursement is one of the most common flashpoints in co-parenting, because it relies on trust and memory unless it is documented. The fix is unglamorous but effective: log each expense with its date and amount, attach the receipt, record the reimbursement request, and keep a running ledger. Done this way, reimbursement stops being an argument and becomes arithmetic.

Example: you pay a $180 activity registration, log it with the receipt attached, and record that you requested the other parent's half. When they question it later, you have the date, the amount, the proof, and the request, not a disputed recollection.

How costs are split and which are reimbursable depend on your order, so keep the ledger factual and let the order settle what each parent owes.

Related terms

Shared expenses
Child-related costs parents split between households, such as uncovered medical bills, school fees, childcare, and activities, usually in proportions set by the order or agreement.
Child support
Court-ordered payments from one parent to the other for a child’s living costs. Usually calculated by formula, and separate from the shared expenses parents split between themselves.
Custody journal / Custody log
A dated, factual record of custody-related events: exchanges, missed visits, medical and school matters, incidents, and expenses. Its value rests on consistency, factual tone, and an unaltered history.

Keep reading: How to Track Co-Parenting Expenses Without the Arguments, or return to the full glossary.

This definition is general information, not legal advice. Terms and their exact meanings vary by state, county, and case; for how this concept applies to your situation, consult a qualified family-law attorney.