Ohio child support calculator
Child support is calculated by plugging in numbers into a worksheet and then doing a calculation that determines what that child support amount is going to be. Sounds simple but actually can be somewhat complicated. For starters, ideally you need the last three years tax returns. You need that because the court will look at the last three years income including bonuses and averaged them out for the purpose of child support calculation.
However because employment histories vary it may be more important to look at the current income. There’s also situations where the current income may not be the appropriate number because the person is voluntarily underemployed or has voluntarily quit their job. If that’s the case then the court can impute that income. So you need to be able to show what the income should have been.
Impute income Ohio child support
If you’re the person trying to argue that income needs to be imputed also if one party or the other has no income you can ask the court to impute minimum wage. In addition under income you would include other sources of income such as worker’s comp or spousal support those numbers all fit very neatly into the worksheet get added up and then income is produced. The number what your total income is once that income number is produced then other factors are called into play.
Health insurance costs for calculating Ohio child support
What is the cost of health insurance? This issue arises over and over and it’s not as difficult as it sounds but you need to know what is the cost of health insurance to include the children. In other words you may be paying $400 a month for a family plan that is not the cost of the health insurance to include the children. The cost of the health insurance to include the children is the family plan minus what you would pay if you only paid insurance for a single person. You may have to contact your H.R. department at work or your insurance agent to find out that difference but that difference is the amount that goes into the calculation.
In addition if your children are in daycare the daycare costs need to be calculated. We also need to know are there other children outside of this relationship for whom one or the other parties is paying support and we need to know what is the local income tax rate. It’s usually 2 percent in Ohio but it can vary converse for example just raised theirs so it’s slightly more you need to know that information because when we’re doing the income amounts we’re going on gross income not net income. You can also deduct certain necessary expenses from your income if you’re required to pay them under the guidelines worksheet. All Divorce in Ohio involving children will include Child Support.
Ohio child support calculated
Finally you will get a number that represents what child support in Ohio should be. However a lot of times people look at that number and say that number is not realistic because my child is in private school or my child has special needs or whatever. There are a variety of reasons in that case and you can do what’s called a deviation.
Deviation from Ohio child support guidelines
A deviation from Ohio child support guidelines has to be done for a reason not just because people want to do it, but it’s very easy to state the reason because usually the reason is the child has increased expenses or the party who’s supposed to pay support has additional expenses or has been willing to pay for certain items that need to be considered as part of support.
If you do a deviation you’re going to have to have a separate finding of fact and conclusion of law that supports that deviation. Sounds complicated. Well that’s why at this point if you’re considering doing a deviation or if you’re having issues with imputed income or if you’re having issues with even calculating the basic support we highly recommend that you consult with a divorce lawyer on these issues. You can make some mistakes that could cost you money and while child support is subject to modification in the future. It’s only subject to modification if there’s a change in circumstances. So if you make a mistake now and the circumstances don’t change you might be stuck with that mistake for a while.
Sometimes one parent may try and take advantage of loopholes in Ohio Child Support processes. It is a good idea to be aware of these loopholes so you can protect yourself and your children and ensure a fair process.
What do Ohio child support payments cover?
Child support in Ohio covers a child’s basic needs. These needs include food, education and tuition costs, shelter, child care, and transportation costs. Medical, dental and healthcare cost are also figured into what should be paid in child support payments. Although the medical, dental, and healthcare costs should be shared, the judge often mandates that the parent with the higher income pays for each.
When does child support end in Ohio?
Parents are responsible to pay child support in Ohio until the child reaches the age of 18. In some cases, the non-custodial parent may have to pay child support for longer depending on certain circumstances. If the child is still in high school after the age of 18, has a mental or physical disability or the parents agree to continue supporting the child, support can be extended.
Modify an Ohio child support order
A parent can ask an Ohio Family Court to modify a child support order once it is in place. However, the parent must wait 36 months after the child support order was put in place. The parent seeking the modification to the child support order should contact the Child Support Enforcement Agency for a review of the case.
The CSE will have a caseworker investigate the order in place and check the parents’ incomes. The caseworker will then recalculate the amount of support that should be paid based on the recalculations.
A parent can ask the court to review the child support order even if it has been in place for fewer than 36 months. The order can only be reviewed, however, if the child’s health insurance has changed. In addition, other specific circumstances can alter the amount paid.
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