Ohio Child Support Lawyers
Reviewed by Stephanie Green · Managing Partner & Co-Founder · Last updated May 27, 2026
Help establishing, modifying, or enforcing Ohio child support orders under the 2024 Income Shares Model. Statewide representation.
How Ohio Calculates Child Support
Ohio uses an Income Shares Model, updated with 2024 figures, which estimates what parents would have spent on a child if the household had stayed intact and divides that amount in proportion to each parent's income. The worksheet factors in both parents' gross incomes, the number of children, health insurance and childcare costs, and parenting-time adjustments.
What Counts as Income
Income includes wages, salary, commissions, bonuses, self-employment earnings, and many benefits. Courts can also impute income to a parent who is voluntarily unemployed or underemployed. Accurate financial disclosure is essential to a fair order.
Modifying a Child Support Order
Either parent can request a review and modification when there is a substantial change in circumstances — commonly a roughly 10% change in the calculated amount, a job loss, or a change in custody or childcare costs. Support generally continues until the child turns 18, or longer if the child is still in high school or has special needs.
Enforcing Support
Ohio enforces child support through income withholding, tax-refund interception, license suspension, credit reporting, and contempt proceedings. We help parents establish, modify, and enforce orders, and respond to enforcement actions.
Estimate Your Support
Try our Ohio Child Support Calculator for an estimate based on the 2024 Income Shares Model, then talk with us about your specific situation.
Official Ohio Child Support Resources
Ohio's child support guidelines and the Income Shares Model are set by statute in Ohio Revised Code Chapter 3119, which governs how support amounts are calculated, reviewed, and modified statewide.
Ohio Child Support by the Numbers
- 2024 Year Ohio's updated Income Shares support schedule took effect Source: Ohio Revised Code § 3119.021
- 10% Change in the calculated amount that justifies a modification Source: Ohio Revised Code § 3119.79
- 3 years How often either parent can request an administrative review Source: Ohio Revised Code § 3119.60
- Age 18 When support normally ends — or high-school graduation, whichever is later Source: Ohio Revised Code § 3119.86
What Counts in an Ohio Child Support Calculation
| What the worksheet counts | Counts toward support? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Both parents' gross income | Yes | Wages, salary, commissions, bonuses, and self-employment earnings |
| Health insurance for the children | Yes | Credited to the parent who pays the premium |
| Work-related childcare | Yes | Daycare and after-school costs are added in |
| Parenting time | Yes | Adjustments apply for substantial or equal parenting time |
| Imputed income | Sometimes | Added when a parent is voluntarily unemployed or underemployed |
| A new spouse's income | No | Only the two parents' incomes are counted |
Frequently Asked Questions
- How is child support calculated in Ohio?
- Ohio uses the Income Shares Model, updated with 2024 figures. It combines both parents' gross incomes, the number of children, health insurance, and childcare costs, then allocates support in proportion to each parent's share of income.
- When can child support be modified in Ohio?
- Support can be reviewed and modified when there is a substantial change in circumstances — often a roughly 10% change in the calculated amount, a significant income change, or a change in custody or childcare costs.
- How long does child support last in Ohio?
- Child support generally continues until the child turns 18, or until graduation if the child is still attending high school. Support may continue longer for a child with a disability.
Find your county's local guide
Filing steps, forms, and the right courthouse vary by county. Choose yours for local details:
Adams County · Allen County · Ashland County · Ashtabula County · Athens County · Auglaize County · Belmont County · Brown County · Butler County · Carroll County · Champaign County · Clark County · Clermont County · Clinton County · Columbiana County · Coshocton County · Crawford County · Cuyahoga County · Darke County · Defiance County · Delaware County · Erie County · Fairfield County · Fayette County · Franklin County · Fulton County · Gallia County · Geauga County · Greene County · Guernsey County · Hamilton County · Hancock County · Hardin County · Henry County · Hocking County · Holmes County · Huron County · Jackson County · Jefferson County · Knox County · Lake County · Lawrence County · Licking County · Logan County · Lorain County · Lucas County · Madison County · Mahoning County · Marion County · Medina County · Meigs County · Mercer County · Miami County · Monroe County · Montgomery County · Morgan County · Morrow County · Muskingum County · Noble County · Ottawa County · Paulding County · Perry County · Pickaway County · Pike County · Portage County · Preble County · Putnam County · Richland County · Ross County · Scioto County · Seneca County · Shelby County · Stark County · Summit County · Trumbull County · Tuscarawas County · Union County · Van Wert County · Vinton County · Warren County · Washington County · Wayne County · Wyandot County
Related guides
A deeper look at how Ohio child support is calculated and modified.
- Child Support Calculation in Ohio: How the Formula Works — Ohio calculates child support with the income shares model, combining both parents' incomes to set a shared obligation. Here's how the formula works and what changes the bottom line.
- How to Modify Child Support in Ohio — Child support orders aren't permanent. When income or circumstances change substantially, Ohio lets you modify support — through a CSEA review or a court motion. Here's how.
Call (844) 694-2885 or email support@gavvl.com.
