Cleveland Family Law Attorneys

How is Child Support Calculated in Ohio?

If you have children and are preparing to go through a divorce, it is important that you familiarize yourself with Ohio’s statutory child support guidelines. Unlike spousal support and the division of marital property (with respect to which divorcing spouses have a certain degree of flexibility), Ohio law requires divorcing spouses to adhere to a strict set of requirements when it comes to establishing child support payment rights and obligations.

However, understanding and applying these guidelines can often be a challenge. While the Ohio statutes outline a “Basic Child Support Schedule” and identify the factors that go into determining an award of child support, calculating child support is still far from a straightforward process. To make the process easier, Laubacher & Co. recently released a free online Ohio Child Support Calculator.

Introducing: Laubacher & Co.’s Ohio Child Support Calculator

Our firm’s Ohio Child Support Calculator is designed to help you determine how much you or your spouse is likely to owe in child support once your divorce is final. Since there are a number of different ways to calculate child support, our calculator focuses on the most common scenario: all of the couple’s children reside primarily with one parent, and the other parent pays child support. As a result, if you and your spouse establish a “split parenting” arrangement (in which one or more children live with each parent), this calculator will not apply.

How to Use Our Free Online Ohio Child Support Calculator

To use our free online Ohio Child Support Calculator, you will need the following information:

  • Which parent will have primary custody
  • Number of children to be covered by child support
  • Each parent’s current wage-based income
  • Each parent’s total income for the last three years
  • Business income and expenses (if either parent is self-employed)
  • Each parent’s income from other sources (such as unemployment or disability)
  • The number of children- and work-related deductions taken on both parents’ most recent tax returns
  • Any pre-existing child support obligations of either parent
  • Any spousal support obligations of either parent
  • Local taxes paid
  • Out-of-pocket health care costs (if healthcare is provided)
  • Any other benefits (such as social security or veterans’ benefits)

Once you collect this information, you can simply plug it into our online calculator. After you click “Calculate Payment,” you will immediately be provided with:

  • Which parent owes child support
  • Monthly and annual child support payment amounts

Disclaimers

Please keep in mind that our online calculator is intended for informational and educational purposes only. The accuracy of the calculation provided is contingent upon both (i) the accuracy and completeness of the information you submit, and (ii) the assumption that there are no unique factors involved in your divorce that could affect your child support award. To confirm the amount of child support that you or your spouse is likely to owe, you should schedule a free, confidential consultation with one of our experienced attorneys.

More Child Support Resources from Laubacher & Co.

For more information about what you can expect in terms of child support once your divorce is final, we encourage you to review these additional resources from the attorneys at Laubacher & Co.:

Schedule a Free Divorce Consultation at Laubacher & Co. in Cleveland, OH

If you would like to speak with an attorney about your divorce, schedule a free, no-obligation consultation at our offices in Cleveland, OH. To learn more about what you can expect regarding child support and your divorce, call (440) 336-8687 or request an appointment online today.