Doyle, Presiding Judge. Sonya Luann Perkins (“the mother”) filed a divorce petition, and her then-husband, Timothy Perkins (“the father”), filed a counterclaim. The trial court entered a final judgment of divorce, including therein a $67,672.58 award under OCGA § 19-7-24 to the mother for reimbursement of reasonable and necessary expenses for the parties’ daughter, J. P. We granted the father’s subsequent application for discretionary review. The father appeals the reimbursement award, arguing that (a) OCGA § 19-7-24 was inapplicable because J. P. was not born out of wedlock as defined by OCGA § 19-7-23; and (b) the trial court erred by awarding reimbursement in a greater amount than the mother spent to support J. P. For the reasons that follow, we vacate the reimbursement award and remand for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.In June 2016, the mother filed a complaint for divorce, and the father filed an answer and counterclaim. The mother subsequently filed an amended complaint, seeking, among other things, reimbursement for expenses associated with caring for J. P. Both parties stated in their pleadings that they were married on January 22, 2004, and that J. P., who was born in 2004, was a “minor child born as issue of the marriage.”[1]In the August 25, 2017 final judgment, following a hearing, the trial court granted the parties’ divorce, ordered that each party would keep their respective property and marital debt, granted joint legal custody of J. P., with the mother having primary physical custody, and granted the father visitation rights. The court ordered the father to pay child support in the amount of $263 per month, based upon the mother’s imputed income of $1,261 per month and the father’s income of $1,502.28 per month. The court also required the father to reimburse the mother for reasonable and necessary expenses associated with caring for J. P.: The [c]ourt finds . . . that the [f]ather has failed to provide any financial support for the minor child since the parties’ separation over ten years ago. The [f]ather’s testimony supported this finding. The [c]ourt finds that the [m]other has incurred reasonable and necessary expenses for the minor child pursuant to OCGA § 19-7-24 in the amount of $67,672.58 and is entitled to reimbursement for the same. A [d]omestic [j]udgment is entered against the [f]ather in the amount of $67,672.58. This debt shall accrue interest in the annualized percentage rate of 3 [percent]. The [f]ather shall pay this amount in minimum monthly payments of $375.96 beginning August 1, 2017[,] and the first of the month thereafter.
