Ohio Child Support Calculator
Uses Ohio Income Shares — ORC 3119 combined adjusted gross income schedule
Table of Contents
How Ohio Calculates Child Support
Ohio uses the Income Shares model under ORC Chapter 3119 (Ohio Revised Code). The calculation determines each parent's gross income, subtracts allowable deductions (including local/municipal income taxes unique to Ohio), combines the adjusted incomes, and looks up the basic child support obligation from the state schedule. Each parent's share is proportional to their percentage of the combined adjusted gross income.
Ohio's guidelines create a rebuttable presumption that the calculated amount is correct. The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) administers the state's child support enforcement program through county Child Support Enforcement Agencies (CSEAs). Ohio is notable for its relatively detailed guidelines that specifically address shared parenting, health care, childcare, and extraordinary expenses.
Income Under ORC 3119
Ohio defines gross income broadly, including all earned and unearned income. A distinctive feature of Ohio is the deduction for local and municipal income taxes, which many Ohio cities and villages impose. Allowable deductions include:
- Federal, state, and local income taxes (Ohio is one of few states with significant local income taxes)
- FICA (Social Security and Medicare)
- Mandatory retirement contributions
- Union dues
- Pre-existing child support obligations
- Spousal support paid
- Local/municipal income taxes (unique to Ohio)
Shared Parenting in Ohio
Ohio addresses shared parenting through court-approved shared parenting plans. When parents have a shared parenting plan, the court still calculates child support using the standard guidelines but may deviate based on the specific terms of the plan and the amount of time each parent spends with the children. Ohio courts consider the additional household expenses incurred by the non-residential parent during extended parenting time and may adjust support accordingly.
Ohio's approach to shared parenting and child support has been shaped by significant case law. Courts have broad discretion to adjust support in shared parenting situations to reflect the actual division of expenses between the households.
Cash Medical Support and Health Insurance
Ohio has specific provisions for health care in child support orders. The court must include a health care order requiring one or both parents to provide health insurance for the children. If private insurance is not available at a reasonable cost (defined as not exceeding 5% of the obligor's gross income), the court may order cash medical support instead. Unreimbursed medical expenses are typically divided proportionally between the parents based on their income shares.
Deviation Factors
Ohio courts can deviate from the guideline amount based on specific factors listed in ORC 3119.23:
- Special or unusual needs of the children
- Extraordinary obligations for prior-born children
- Other court-ordered payments
- Extended parenting time or extraordinary costs
- The obligor's need for a reliable vehicle
- Significant in-kind contributions
- Disproportion of net income to total income
- Benefits received by a parent from remarriage or shared living
- Post-secondary education expenses
Modification and Enforcement
Ohio allows modification every 36 months through administrative review by the CSEA, or at any time upon showing a substantial change in circumstances (generally a 10% change). Ohio's enforcement tools include income withholding, tax interception, license suspension (driver's, professional, recreational), contempt, property liens, bank account seizure, credit reporting, passport denial, and even driver's license points. Ohio charges interest on arrearages at the statutory rate.
Ohio child support continues until the child turns 18, or age 19 if still attending high school. The court may order support for a disabled child beyond the age of majority.
Ohio uses combined adjusted gross income schedule under ORC Chapter 3119
Ohio Child Support Schedule
Below is a representative sample of the Ohio child support schedule showing basic monthly obligations:
| Combined Monthly Income | 1 Child | 2 Children | 3 Children | 4 Children | 5 Children |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $1,500 | $285 | $429 | $491 | $531 | $567 |
| $2,500 | $418 | $629 | $720 | $779 | $831 |
| $3,500 | $519 | $780 | $883 | $961 | $1,030 |
| $5,000 | $653 | $980 | $1,108 | $1,208 | $1,295 |
| $7,500 | $853 | $1,271 | $1,424 | $1,562 | $1,681 |
| $10,000 | $1,034 | $1,534 | $1,717 | $1,887 | $2,031 |
| $15,000 | $1,342 | $1,979 | $2,221 | $2,446 | $2,638 |
| $20,000 | $1,597 | $2,325 | $2,620 | $2,890 | $3,122 |
| $22,500 | $1,735 | $2,518 | $2,843 | $3,140 | $3,395 |
| $25,000 | $1,860 | $2,695 | $3,047 | $3,370 | $3,648 |
| $28,000 | $1,990 | $2,880 | $3,260 | $3,612 | $3,912 |
Ohio Self-Support Reserve
Ohio incorporates a self-support reserve into its child support guidelines to ensure that the obligor retains enough income to meet basic living expenses. Under ORC 3119.04, if the obligor's adjusted gross income falls below the federal poverty level for a single person (approximately $1,255/month in 2026), the court may order a reduced amount or the statutory minimum of $50 per month per child.
The self-support reserve prevents child support obligations from pushing the paying parent below subsistence level. When the obligor's income is near the poverty threshold, the court considers:
- Federal poverty guidelines for a single individual ($15,060 annually / $1,255 monthly in 2026)
- Minimum order: $50/month per child when income falls below the reserve
- Imputed income: courts may impute minimum-wage income if the obligor is voluntarily underemployed
- Deviation authority: ORC 3119.23 allows judges to reduce orders below the minimum in extraordinary hardship cases
Ohio County CSEAs (Child Support Enforcement Agencies)
Ohio has 88 county CSEAs (Child Support Enforcement Agencies), one for each county. These agencies are the primary point of contact for establishing, modifying, and enforcing child support orders. Each CSEA operates under the oversight of the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS).
Key CSEA functions include:
- Establishing paternity through genetic testing
- Setting initial child support orders using the ORC 3119 guidelines
- Administrative reviews every 36 months (or upon request with a 10% change threshold)
- Income withholding orders sent directly to employers
- Enforcement actions including license suspension, tax interception, and contempt referrals
- Interstate case coordination under UIFSA for parents in different states
Major county CSEAs include Franklin County (Columbus), Cuyahoga County (Cleveland), Hamilton County (Cincinnati), Summit County (Akron), Montgomery County (Dayton), Lucas County (Toledo), Stark County (Canton), and Butler County (Hamilton). Each county may have slightly different local procedures, but all follow the same ORC 3119 guidelines for calculating support amounts.
Ohio Child Support Calculation: Worked Example
Here is a step-by-step example using the ORC 3119 Income Shares model:
Step 1: Determine Gross Income
Parent 1 (obligor): $5,000/month gross. Parent 2 (custodial): $3,000/month gross.
Step 2: Calculate Deductions
Parent 1 deductions (federal, state, local taxes, FICA): $1,250. Parent 2 deductions: $750. Adjusted: P1 = $3,750, P2 = $2,250.
Step 3: Combined Adjusted Income
$3,750 + $2,250 = $6,000 combined. Parent 1 share: 62.5%. Parent 2 share: 37.5%.
Step 4: Look Up Schedule
At $6,000 combined for 2 children: approximately $1,088. Parent 1 obligation: $1,088 x 62.5% = $680/month.
Add proportional shares of health insurance premiums for the children and work-related childcare costs. The final order reflects the obligor's total share of the basic obligation plus additional expenses.
Ohio "Other Order" Deduction
Under ORC 3119.02, Ohio allows an other-order deduction for parents who have pre-existing child support obligations from prior cases. If Parent 1 already pays $400/month in support for a child from a previous relationship, that $400 is deducted from their gross income before computing the new obligation. This prevents stacking obligations that would exceed the parent's ability to pay.
The other-order deduction applies only to court-ordered support obligations, not voluntary payments. The deduction is taken before computing adjusted gross income, which means it affects the parent's income share percentage in the current case.
Health Insurance Allocation in Ohio
Ohio requires a health care order in every child support case. Under ORC 3119.30, the court evaluates which parent can obtain health insurance for the children at reasonable cost (not exceeding 5% of gross income). The cost of children's health insurance premiums is added to the basic child support obligation and divided proportionally between parents based on income shares.
If neither parent has access to affordable employer-sponsored insurance, the court may order cash medical support — a monthly payment toward the children's medical expenses. Unreimbursed medical expenses (copays, deductibles, prescriptions, dental, vision) are typically divided between parents in proportion to their income shares, unless the court orders otherwise.
How to Modify Ohio Child Support
Ohio provides two pathways for modifying child support orders:
1. Administrative Review (Every 36 Months)
Either parent can request an administrative review through the county CSEA once every 36 months from the date of the last order or last review. The CSEA recalculates support using current income and the ORC 3119 guidelines. If the recalculated amount differs from the current order by 10% or more (per ORC 3119.79), the CSEA recommends a modification.
2. Motion for Changed Circumstances (Anytime)
A parent can file a motion with the court at any time alleging a substantial change in circumstances. Common qualifying changes include:
- Significant increase or decrease in either parent's income (job loss, promotion, new employment)
- Change in the number of overnight stays or custody arrangement
- Child's medical needs have changed substantially
- A child has aged out of support (turned 18 or graduated high school at 19)
- Emancipation of a child (marriage, military enlistment)
- Incarceration of the obligor (Ohio courts may but are not required to modify)
File a motion in the court that issued the original order. The court will schedule a hearing and recalculate using current ORC 3119 guidelines.