Child Support Services in Ohio

What child support clients say

Very helpful and informative. Did not rush me, explained everything — very good communication and a great asset to the team.

Attorneys & staffing were very informative, clear, concise, professional & helpful. Consultation was worth the fee.

From the very beginning, the person I spoke with was kind, professional, and incredibly knowledgeable. She answered all of my questions, even the ones I hadn't thought to ask yet, and explained the process clearly and with compassion. By the end of our conversation, I felt fully informed and completely confident in my decision to move forward with them for my divorce.

Who Pays Child Support?

In most Ohio cases, the noncustodial parent pays support to the parent who provides the child's primary home. Child support reflects a simple principle: both parents share the cost of raising their child. The Income Shares Model divides that responsibility based on each parent's income and parenting time, so even the parent receiving payments is contributing their share.

When You Need a Child Support Attorney

Many parents handle a straightforward order through the county Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA). You should talk to an attorney when income is disputed, when a parent is self-employed or paid in cash, when there are arrears or enforcement actions, or when support crosses state lines.

Complex Support Situations

• Self-employment income — we work with business records to establish accurate gross income.
• Imputed income — addressing voluntary unemployment or underemployment.
• Interstate cases — Ohio follows the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (UIFSA) so one valid order controls across states.
• Arrears & enforcement — responding to or pursuing income withholding, license suspension, and contempt.

How Gavvl Law Helps

We establish, modify, and enforce Ohio child support orders, and defend parents facing enforcement. Estimate first with our Ohio Child Support Calculator, see how overnights affect your case with the Parenting Time Calculator, and budget the whole matter with the Divorce Cost Calculator.

Flat fees, payment plans, no surprises

Every flat fee below comes straight from our published price list — the same numbers you would see at checkout. Start online, or book a $25 consultation and we will match you to the right option.

Child support

Flat-fee limited scope: we draft and file the support motion (establish, modify, or terminate). The court filing fee is billed separately and this does not include in-court representation.

• Establish child support: $1,095
• Modify child support: $1,095
• Terminate child support: $1,095

Need full representation? For contested or complex cases, an attorney manages your entire case — strategy, filings, hearings, and negotiation — on a $3,500 retainer plus hourly fees. Compare representation options.

On limited-scope services of $2,000 or more, Gavvl Direct — our in-house plan with no interest and no credit check — takes 60% down to start, then the balance in three monthly payments, the first due 28 days after your initial payment. Affirm, Klarna, and PayPal Pay Later are also available through LawPay. See financing details.

Real people — with direct lines

• Stephanie Green — Managing Partner
• Elizabeth Warren — Managing Partner
• Niva Elgin — Director of Attorney Relations · Licensed New Mexico Attorney

Your consultation

Stephanie Green or Elizabeth Warren, our managing partners — or Niva Elgin, our Director of Attorney Relations and a licensed New Mexico attorney. They've heard hundreds of situations like yours and will tell you plainly what you need, and what you don't. Meet the firm.

Your attorney

One of our Of Counsel Ohio family-law attorneys is your attorney for the case — from the first strategy call to the final order in Ohio. You have their name and a direct line the day your file opens. Our attorneys.

Your case team

Niva Elgin keeps your case moving as Director of Attorney Relations. Madeline Wampler, Certified Paralegal, handles documents and scheduling. Erin Schultz, Finance Manager, handles billing and payment plans. Real people who answer when you call.

• 95+ five-star Google reviews
• 60+ years of combined Ohio family-law experience
• Super Lawyers Rising Stars honorees on the team: Elizabeth Warren (2021–2023) and Samantha Berkhofer (2019–2021)
• Every flat fee published before you call

From first call to retained — and every step after

1. Consultation — A 30-minute phone call, $25. You talk with Stephanie Green, Elizabeth Warren, or Niva Elgin about what's happening and what Ohio law actually does with it. Before you hang up you'll know whether you need a lawyer at all — and if you do, you leave with a written quote: the service we recommend, the price, your financing options, and your next steps.
2. Choose — Pick the level of help. Pay, or set up financing. Limited-scope flat fee or full representation — you choose, with real numbers in front of you. Pay online, or secure a Gavvl Direct payment plan or third-party financing in a few minutes. Nothing is billed until you decide.
3. Sign — Your agreement arrives by email. Review the client agreement and sign it electronically — from your phone if you like. While you do, your attorney reviews your intake.
4. Get started — Your first attorney call goes on the calendar. Limited scope: your attorney's first call is scheduled from your intake. Full representation: a paralegal reaches out the same or next business day to open your file and gather what's needed, then schedules your first attorney call — and if something is urgent, you speak with the attorney first.

It's easier than ever to retain an excellent attorney.

How you'll stay updated — you never have to wonder

Every client gets GavvLink™, our client portal, on day one. Your whole case — messages, calendar, billing, status — lives in one place, and your team is a message away.

• Reach your attorney directly. Message, text, email, or call. Request a callback or book time on their calendar yourself — no waiting to hear back.
• Case calendar with reminders. Every hearing, deadline, and milestone, with a reminder before each one.
• Case status updates. See where your case stands and what happens next, updated as it moves.
• Payments and billing in real time. Every entry on your account as it posts, plus links to make a payment or add funds.
• Your case team, one message away. Full-representation clients message their paralegal and case manager the same way — and they answer.
• 24/7 receptionists and direct lines. Something urgent after hours? A live receptionist answers around the clock and reaches your team. You also have your attorney's direct line — and a way to reach the managing partners. We return calls and messages promptly.

Can I do this without an attorney?

sometimes, yes. Ohio lets you represent yourself, and for a genuinely agreed dissolution or a simple motion, some people do. Every Ohio county's forms and local rules are linked from our county pages, and our free tools will draft a parenting plan or estimate child support before you spend anything.

Here's what the online-divorce platforms leave out: most Ohio counties require their own forms and language on top of the statewide ones, and a rejected filing is the most common reason people call us after trying it alone. A $25, 30-minute call tells you whether you can do this yourself — and if you can, we'll say so.

• Free parenting plan builder
• Free child support estimate
• Attorney-written guides

Schedule Your $25 Consultation

Frequently Asked Questions

How is child support calculated in Ohio?

Ohio uses the Income Shares Model which considers both parents' gross incomes, number of children, health insurance costs, daycare expenses, and parenting time. The Ohio Child Support Calculator is used to determine the guideline amount.

Can child support be modified in Ohio?

Yes. You can request a modification if there's been a substantial change in circumstances, such as job loss, significant income change, or changes in parenting time. A change of at least 10% or more from the current order is typically required.

What happens if someone doesn't pay child support in Ohio?

Ohio has strong enforcement measures including wage garnishment, tax refund interception, license suspension (driver's, professional, recreational), credit bureau reporting, and potential contempt of court charges which can result in jail time.

How long does child support last in Ohio?

Child support typically continues until the child turns 18 and graduates from high school, but no later than age 19. It can be extended if the child is disabled and unable to support themselves.

Does parenting time affect child support in Ohio?

Yes. If a parent has the child overnight more than 90 nights per year, the child support calculation adjusts to account for shared parenting expenses. More parenting time generally reduces the support obligation.

Can child support include medical expenses?

Yes. Child support orders typically address health insurance coverage and how uncovered medical expenses are divided between parents, often on a percentage basis matching the income shares calculation.

Related guides

Attorney-written guides on 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.