Ohio Child Support — Calculator, Laws & Guide (2026)

Understanding Ohio child support laws helps both custodial and non-custodial parents know their rights and obligations. This comprehensive Ohio child support guide covers how payments are calculated, what income counts, when support can be modified, and how orders are enforced. Whether you are going through a divorce, seeking a modification, or dealing with non-payment, this guide explains Ohio’s child support system in plain language.

Verified against Ohio statutes and federal OCSE guidelines as of April 2026.

Ohio Child Support Overview

Ohio uses the income shares model for calculating child support. This model is based on the principle that children should receive the same proportion of parental income they would have received if the family were intact. Both parents’ incomes are combined, and the support obligation is divided proportionally.

Ohio combines both parents’ gross incomes and references the basic child support schedule (ORC 3119.021) for combined incomes between 8400 and 336000 per year. Each parent’s obligation is their proportional share of combined income applied to the schedule amount for the number of children (1-6). The schedule uses a sliding scale multiplier times (guideline income minus 8400) plus an annual minimum support amount. Schedule is updated every four years based on CPI-U changes from March 2016 baseline.

How Ohio Calculates Child Support

The Ohio child support calculation considers multiple factors:

1. Determine each parent’s gross income — wages, salary, commissions, bonuses, self-employment income, investment income, and other sources.
2. Calculate combined parental income — add both parents’ adjusted gross incomes together.
3. Apply the guideline schedule — Ohio’s guidelines provide a base support amount based on combined income and number of children.
4. Prorate between parents — each parent’s share is proportional to their percentage of the combined income.
5. Add healthcare and childcare costs — these are added to the base amount and divided proportionally.
6. Apply adjustments — parenting time credits, other child obligations, and special circumstances may adjust the final amount.

Online calculator: Use our child support estimator below to calculate your estimated obligation.

What Counts as Income in Ohio

Gross income — total of all earned and unearned income from all sources during a calendar year, whether or not taxable. Includes: salaries, wages, overtime, bonuses, commissions, royalties, tips, rents, dividends, severance pay, pensions, interest, trust income, annuities, Social Security benefits (retirement, disability, survivor — non-means-tested), workers compensation, unemployment insurance, disability insurance, spousal support received, and all other sources. Excludes: means-tested government benefits (Ohio Works First, SSI, SNAP), child support received for other children, and mandatory wage deductions like union dues (but not taxes).

Imputed income: YES. Under ORC 3119.01, if a court or CSEA determines a parent is voluntarily unemployed or voluntarily underemployed, the court imputes potential income based on: prior employment experience, education, physical and mental disabilities, availability of employment in the area, prevailing wage rates, age and special needs of the child, increased earning capacity due to experience, decreased earning capacity due to felony conviction, and any other relevant factor. Income from non-income-producing assets may also be imputed.

Deviation factors: Under ORC 3119.23: special and unusual needs of the children; extraordinary obligations for minor children or obligations for handicapped children who are not stepchildren; other court-ordered payments; extended parenting time or extraordinary costs associated with parenting time (including travel expenses); obligor obtaining additional employment after the support order; the financial resources and earning ability of the child; disparity in income between parties or households; benefits that either parent receives from remarriage or sharing living expenses; amount of federal, state, and local taxes actually paid or estimated to be paid; significant in-kind contributions from a parent; the relative financial resources including disparity in income between parties; the standard of living and circumstances of each parent; the physical and emotional condition and needs of each child; the need and capacity of the child for education; the responsibility of each parent for the support of others; and any other relevant factor.

Healthcare & Childcare in Ohio Child Support

Health insurance: Court determines which parent provides health insurance coverage under ORC 3119.30. The obligee is rebuttably presumed to be the appropriate parent to provide coverage. A cash medical support amount is ordered for each child, split between parents based on income share. The cost of health insurance premiums is credited against that parent’s annual income in the calculation. Reasonable cost is defined as not exceeding 5 percent of the providing parent’s annual income. If neither parent can provide insurance at reasonable cost, cash medical support is still ordered.

Childcare costs: Work-related childcare costs are shared between parents proportionally based on each parent’s income share. The obligor pays an amount equal to the obligor’s income share of child care costs as part of the child support calculation. Childcare costs are added to the basic child support obligation before the proportional split is applied.

When Does Ohio Child Support End?

In Ohio, child support generally ends when the child reaches 18. Extends to age 19 if the child is continuously enrolled in and regularly attending an accredited high school full-time at age 18 — support continues until graduation or age 19, whichever comes first. May also continue beyond 18 if child is mentally or physically disabled and incapable of self-support, or if parents agreed to extended support in the divorce decree.. However, support may continue or end earlier based on:

• The child graduates from high school (if still a minor)
• The child becomes emancipated (marriage, military service, self-supporting)
• The child has special needs requiring ongoing support
• College support: NO. Ohio courts cannot order parents to pay for college education absent a voluntary agreement between the parents incorporated into the divorce or dissolution decree. Parents may agree to extend support through college, but courts lack authority to mandate it.

Modifying Ohio Child Support

When to modify: A recalculated child support amount that is more than 10 percent greater or more than 10 percent less than the existing order constitutes a substantial change of circumstances sufficient to require modification under ORC 3119.79. Also qualifies: involuntary loss of employment, change in physical custody, a lapse in the child’s medical insurance, or other substantial change not contemplated at the time of the original order.

How to modify: Either parent may request a review through the local CSEA (Child Support Enforcement Agency) every 36 months without showing changed circumstances, or at any time by filing a motion with the court demonstrating a substantial change of circumstances. The CSEA conducts an administrative review and recalculation. If the 10 percent threshold is met, CSEA recommends modification. Either party may also file a motion directly with the Domestic Relations Court. Modifications can be made retroactive to the date the motion was filed but not before.

Either parent can request a modification. Changes are typically not retroactive to before the date of filing the modification request.

Ohio Child Support Enforcement

Ohio has multiple tools to enforce child support orders when a parent fails to pay:

• Income withholding/wage garnishment; state and federal tax refund intercept; driver’s license suspension; professional license suspension; recreational license suspension; passport denial (arrears over 2500); contempt of court proceedings; credit bureau reporting; financial institution account freeze and seizure; lump sum payment intercept (employer payments over 150); liens on real and personal property; referral to private collection agencies

Contact Ohio Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA), administered by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS), Office of Child Support at https://jfs.ohio.gov/child-support/child-support-services for enforcement assistance.

Additional Ohio rules: Parenting time credit of 10 percent reduction applies when the obligor has 90 or more overnights per year. Combined income above 336000 requires court discretion rather than the schedule. Self-sufficiency reserve protects obligors at or below 116 percent of the federal poverty level. Ohio uses a basic child support schedule form (JFS 07767) and child support computation worksheet. The schedule starts at 8400 combined annual income and increases in 600 increments. Parents share responsibility for work-related childcare costs proportionally. Cash medical support is a separate line item in addition to basic support.

Official Sources & Resources

• Ohio Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA), administered by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS), Office of Child Support: https://jfs.ohio.gov/child-support/child-support-services
• Federal OCSE: acf.hhs.gov/css
• Cornell LII — Child Support: law.cornell.edu
• Ohio Guidelines Statute: Ohio Revised Code Chapter 3119 (Calculation of Child Support Obligation — Health Insurance Coverage), specifically ORC 3119.01 through 3119.962. Key sections: 3119.01 (definitions/income), 3119.021 (basic schedule), 3119.022-023 (deviations), 3119.30-32 (health insurance), 3119.79 (modification), 3119.86-88 (termination).

Last verified April 2026. Contact us if you notice outdated information.

Estimate Your Child Support

Use our free child support estimator to calculate estimated monthly payments. Enter both parents’ incomes, number of children, and custody arrangement to see a personalized breakdown based on your state’s formula.

Related Guides

• Ohio Divorce Process Guide
• Ohio Child Custody Guide
• Ohio Alimony Guide
• All Child Support Guides