Child support in shared parenting is not automatically excluded because a child spends substantial time with both parents. The practical question is how the child’s needs, each parent’s resources and the actual day-to-day care are fairly addressed.

This article outlines general principles of Bulgarian family law. It is not a substitute for advice on a specific family arrangement. For assistance, see our family-law services or contact Zdravkov Attorneys at Law.

Shared parenting and child support are different questions

Shared parenting concerns the child’s living arrangements and parental responsibilities. Child support concerns the financial contribution required for the child’s ordinary and exceptional needs. A more balanced schedule does not, by itself, mean that child support disappears or that every expense is automatically split in half.

The guiding assessment is the child’s best interests. A court or a parental agreement should take account of the child’s age and needs, the parents’ income and assets, the care each parent actually provides, and the specific costs that continue regardless of where the child stays.

Who pays child support in shared parenting?

Both parents have a duty to support their child. In a shared-parenting arrangement, the financial outcome depends on the individual facts. One parent may pay a regular monthly amount; parents may agree on a structured sharing of costs; or a court may make a different arrangement that reflects the child’s needs and the parents’ means.

There is no automatic 50/50 rule

Equal overnight stays are relevant, but they are only one part of the analysis. If one parent covers school fees, medical expenses, clothing, transport or other recurring costs to a materially greater extent, those contributions may matter. So may a significant difference between the parents’ financial capabilities.

Minimum child support

Bulgarian law sets a statutory minimum child-support threshold linked to the minimum wage. It is important not to treat that minimum as a fixed answer for every family or to assume that it is simply divided because care is shared. The applicable amount and the evidence needed depend on the current law and the concrete case.

How should parents organise the child’s expenses after separation?

A clear written arrangement prevents many avoidable disputes. It should separate ordinary, predictable expenses from exceptional costs and state how proof and reimbursement will work.

• daily food, clothing, transport and communication;
• kindergarten or school costs, supplies and extracurricular activities;
• healthcare, medicines, therapies and dental treatment;
• one-off expenses such as travel, camps, devices or major school payments.

A receipt alone does not automatically make the other parent liable. It is better to agree in advance which costs require consultation and which urgent expenses can be incurred first and discussed immediately afterwards.

What should a shared-parenting agreement include?

Regular payments

Specify any monthly sum, its due date, payment method and exactly which ordinary expenses it covers. Bank transfer is generally easier to document than cash.

Additional and exceptional expenses

Define how school, health and other exceptional costs are approved, evidenced and reimbursed. Include a practical rule for urgent medical needs.

Schedule and changes

Set out the regular schedule, holidays and handover arrangements. A change in circumstances should trigger a discussion, but an informal change of routine does not automatically amend an existing court-approved maintenance obligation.

Can an existing maintenance obligation simply be stopped?

No. A parent should not unilaterally stop paying maintenance fixed by a court decision or approved settlement merely because contact arrangements have changed. A modification normally requires a valid new agreement in the appropriate form or a court decision based on changed circumstances.

Likewise, gifts, direct purchases or voluntary payments are not necessarily treated as payment of a legally due monthly amount. Keep records and take legal advice before making a change.

Frequently asked questions

Do equal incomes remove child support?

Not automatically. The child’s needs, actual care and distribution of costs still matter.

Do the same principles apply if the parents were not married?

Yes. The child’s right to support does not depend on whether the parents were married.

Can maintenance change when the child’s needs increase?

It can be reviewed where there is a material change in circumstances, such as changed needs or financial capacity.

Prepare for a family-law consultation

Bring any court decision or agreement, a proposed schedule, evidence of recurring child-related costs and information about relevant income. If divorce is also being discussed, see our page on divorce by mutual consent.

For an appointment, contact Zdravkov Attorneys at Law, Sofia, Positano Square No. 3, tel. +359 886 722 772.

Information current as of 26 September 2026. This is general information, not individual legal advice. Images are illustrative.