Co-parenting shared expenses list and reimbursement log
Quick answer
A co-parenting shared expenses list names the child costs two parents split and the percentage each pays, such as medical copays, school fees, activities, childcare, clothing, devices and camps. A reimbursement log records each payment with its date, amount, who paid, whether the receipt was kept, and when it was requested and paid. If a court order or written agreement already sets who pays what, use that instead.
Key points
- Agree the split percentage for each type of cost once, so nobody renegotiates every purchase. The two percentages in a row must add up to 100.
- Mark which costs need a yes before anyone buys, and pick a dollar amount above which every cost does.
- Log each payment the day it happens with the amount, who paid, whether you kept the receipt, and when it was requested and paid.
- Net what each parent owes at month end: in the example, $100.00 for a camp deposit minus $48.00 for cleats leaves one payment of $52.00.
On this page
How to use this template
This list is a starting point for what two parents might write down. If a court order or a written agreement says who pays what, follow it. This page does not replace either, and your list should match them.
- Agree the list first, away from any single purchase. Fill in table 1 together. In each row, the two percentages add up to 100. Add a row for any category that is not here.
- Mark what needs a yes before anyone buys. Camps, devices and new activities commit the other parent’s money. Pick a dollar amount above which every cost needs a yes, and agree how quickly the other parent replies.
- Log each payment the day it happens. One row in table 2, with a photo or copy of the receipt saved.
- Work out the other parent’s share. Multiply the amount by their percentage and round to the cent.
- Request once a month, in one batch. Net what each parent owes the other, so there is a single payment, and fill in the dates.
The template
Table 1: shared costs and the agreed split
| Cost | Parent A pays (%) | Parent B pays (%) | Ask first? (yes or no) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical copays and prescriptions | |||
| School fees and supplies | |||
| Activities and lessons | |||
| Childcare and after-school care | |||
| Clothing and shoes | |||
| Phones, tablets and other devices | |||
| Camps (deposits and fees) | |||
| Other (write in) |
Table 2: reimbursement log
| Date paid | Amount and what for | Paid by | Receipt kept (yes or no) | Requested on, paid on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
A worked example at 60/40
Say Parent A pays 60 percent of camp and sports costs and Parent B pays 40 percent. Parent A pays a $250.00 camp deposit on Oct 3, and Parent B pays $80.00 for soccer cleats on Oct 18.
| Date | Cost and who paid | Amount | The other parent owes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 3 | Camp deposit, Parent A | $250.00 | $100.00 (40%) |
| Oct 18 | Soccer cleats, Parent B | $80.00 | $48.00 (60%) |
Parent B owes $100.00 and Parent A owes $48.00. The difference is $52.00, so Parent B makes one payment of $52.00 at the end of the month. Each log entry gets a “requested on” date and, once the money arrives, a “paid on” date.
What to agree on
- The split for each cost type. One agreed percentage per row means you never negotiate a split in the middle of a purchase. Percentages can differ by row, for example 50/50 for clothing and 60/40 for camps.
- Ask first. A new phone or a camp deposit is a commitment of the other parent’s money. A yes before the purchase avoids the argument after it. A dollar threshold keeps small costs out of the way.
- Receipts. A kept receipt lets a request stand on its own. A photo is enough if you both agree it is.
- Dates. The gap between “requested on” and “paid on” shows what is still open. Agree on how long a request can wait, such as 14 days.
- Disputed rows. Mark the row, settle the rest, and come back to it. One disagreement should not hold up everything else.
When you would rather not keep the log by hand
A paper or spreadsheet log works as long as both parents use it. For a longer look at the options, see what to look for in a co-parenting expenses app, and how to split daycare and childcare costs between parents goes through the childcare line in detail. A percentage split calculator does the 60/40 arithmetic for any amount.
EvenOut can hold the same record. Once the other parent is added as a friend, you log each expense one-on-one, choose a split by percent, attach one receipt photo, and the friend page keeps the running balance. “Settle up” records the payment, and the money still moves however you already pay.
Frequently asked questions
What counts as a shared child expense?
Whatever the two of you write down. The usual candidates are medical copays, school fees and supplies, activities, childcare, clothing, devices and camps. Haircuts, school photos, birthday parties and tutoring also come up. Put anything unusual in the Other row with its own percentage before it is bought.
Should the other parent get a copy of the log?
Yes. Share the log, not only the total. A request that arrives with its date, amount and a receipt is easier to answer, and both of you hold the same record of what was asked and when it was paid.
How do you log a deposit when the final bill is different?
Leave the deposit row as it is and add a second row for the balance. If a camp costs $410.00 in the end and the $250.00 deposit is already logged, the second row is $160.00. At 40 percent, the other parent owes $100.00 on the first row and $64.00 on the second, which is $164.00, the same as 40 percent of $410.00.
What if the other parent does not reimburse a shared cost?
This template cannot settle that. A complete log with dates and receipts shows what was requested and when. For what happens next, check your court order or written agreement, since this page does not give legal advice.
Keep reading
- Guide Co-parenting expenses app: what to look for Seven checks for a co-parenting expenses app, from fixed-percent splits to receipt photos and edit limits, and what EvenOut does and does not cover.
- Guide How to split daycare and childcare costs between parents Split the net daycare bill you actually pay, then apply 50/50, a fixed percent or an income-based percent. One $1,450 example worked three ways.
- Calculator Percentage split calculator Enter a total and each person's percent to see every share in dollars and cents. $1,250 at 60 and 40 percent is $750 and $500. Percents off 100 are flagged.
- Template Family expense tracker template for a month A monthly family expense tracker with fixed, variable and irregular costs, a paid-by column for each parent and a year-to-date table. Filled for four people.