Ohio Child Support

Detailed Guide to Ohio Child Support Law

Ohio’s Child Support Laws for Length of Payment

A parent is required to pay Ohio child support until the child is 18 and still attending high school. Also, Ohio child support laws state that a parent is not obligated to keep paying support if any of the following occur:

• the child’s death

• the child’s marriage

• the child’s enlistment in the armed services

• the child’s deportation

• legal custody for the child has been transferred

Guidelines under Ohio Child Support Laws

Section 3119.01 Calculation of child support obligation definitions provides explanations of determining factors for Ohio’s child support cases. Specifically, this section provides determining factors for any child support case within OH, and in part 11 of the section, the court will determine child support upon custodial rights, potential income, and more.

Potential income under Ohio’s child support laws is defined as the following:

• each parent’s prior work experience

• each parent’s education

• each parent’s physical and mental disabilities

• the availability of employment in the area each parent resides

• each parent’s special skills and training

• the age and special needs of any child under the settlement agreement

• each parent’s increased earning capacity upon experience

• any other relevant factors

How is Ohio Child Support Calculated?

Ohio’s child support is determined when two parents seek dissolution of marriage, an annulment, or a separation. The parents may be able to come to an agreement outside of court in mediation, but if the issue is settled in litigation, a judge will use a number of determining factors to determine Ohio child support.

Once the court has determined each parent’s adjusted monthly income, Ohio’s child support is calculated using the following sections of Ohio Revised Code:

• 3119.022 Child support computation worksheet for sole residential parent or shard parenting order

• 3119.023 child support computation worksheet for split parental rights and responsibilities

After Ohio child support is determined using the conditions in the sections listed above, a support schedule will be determined using section 3119.021.

For tax purposes, Ohio’s child support laws normally allow the non-custodial parent to claim the children as dependents on their taxes. Ohio’s child support laws for federal income tax deduction are listed under section 3119.82 of the revised codes.

Ohio’s Child Support Collection Unit

If the supporting parent has fallen behind on the Ohio child support payments or has refused to make such payments, an Ohio resident is encouraged to contact the Child Support Payment Central which controls the collecting and disbursing of child support payments. The following link will provide you with more information about this unit:

In order to contact the Interactive Voice Response System under the Department of Job and Family Service, you can call (800) 860-2555. This automated telephone system will provide you with contact information to local Child Support Enforcement Agencies.

Child support in Ohio falls under the jurisdiction of the country Child Support Enforcement Agency and services are available for free to those that are on public assistance and for one dollar for those that are not. CSEA can help establish guidelines on the probably amount of child support that will be paid to the custodial parent. Child support orders will generally be paid through income withholding and can apply to wages as well as benefits, awards and endowments. Failure to pay on child support obligations will lead to credit reporting, license suspension and even jail time if the parent is found in contempt of court.

NEXT: Oklahoma Child Support