Ohio Child Support

By Karen Frazier

In Ohio, the Ohio Revised Codes Section 3119 outlines the state's child support guidelines as required by federal child support laws. The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services Office of Child Support Enforcement holds primary responsibility for administration and enforcement of these guidelines.

Obtaining Child Support

If you need to establish a child support order, you may do so in multiple ways:

Contact your local Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA) to apply for services.
Seek child support as part of your divorce action.
Hire an attorney.

Calculating Support

The Ohio support guidelines outline the method of calculating the basic support obligation. Support calculations are based on both parents' incomes. Figures used to calculate income include:

Wages and salary
An averaged amount of overtime, tips, bonuses, and commission from the past three years
Self-employment income from the previous year minus reasonable and necessary business expenses
Retirement income
Interest and dividends
Unemployment
Disability payments or worker's compensation

Parents are allowed to adjust their income based on the following deductions:

Deductions for minor dependent children living with the parent
Court-ordered child support obligations
Court-ordered spousal support obligations
Mandatory work-related deductions
Work-related childcare expenses for the child in the order
Out-of-pocket healthcare costs, including health insurance costs

Once all of these factors have been calculated, the parents' combined gross income is calculated. The child's basic support is based on the Basic Support Table, which considers the number of children and the combined gross income of both parents. Each parent is then assigned a percentage of the combined gross income based on his or her contribution. That percentage is applied to the basic support obligation, and the non-custodial parent pays the custodial parent that support amount.

For example, if both parents make $1,000 per month and there is one child, then each parent is assigned 50 percent of the basic support obligation. With the combined gross income equaling $24,000 per year, the basic support obligation is $4,471 per year (according to the support table). That means the total combined support obligation is $372.00, and the non-custodial parent's obligation is 50 percent of that.

Deviations

The courts may grant deviations from a standard support amount for a number of reasons:

Any special financial needs the child may have
Extended visitation or shared custody
Extraordinary educational expenses
Extraordinary in-kind payments by one parent such as lessons or sports
Standard of living of each parent
Extraordinary health care expenses

Medical Support

Child support orders make provisions for medical support of the child. If reasonably priced insurance is available, both parents may be required to maintain health insurance for the child. Expenses that are not covered by insurance may also be apportioned in the support order, typically based on each parent's percentage of the combined gross income.

Modification

Child support orders can be reviewed every three years, starting 36 months after the establishment of the original order. Either parent can request a modification review. Reasons a child support modification may be granted include:

Significant and permanent changes in income of 30 percent or greater
A job layoff

To determine whether you are eligible for a child support modification, complete the Review and Adjustment Eligibility Questionnaire. If you are, then complete an application for a child support review.

Collection and Distribution

Ohio law considers direct support payments from one parent to another a gift that does not apply to a support obligation. All payments must be made via income withholding (payroll deduction). Custodial parents can receive payment via direct deposit or a prepaid debit card.