Child support is an important part of any divorce case, and working with a Warren, Ohio child support attorney like Adam Hunt is the best way to ensure a fair outcome during your divorce.
Navigating child support and child custody can be difficult, but with the help of Adam Hunt and Hunt Law, you can set your child up for a brighter future, get through this difficult time, and protect your best interests.
Who Pays Child Support?
In most cases, the non-residential parent is responsible for sending child support payments to the residential parent. Even in cases where joint custody is agreed upon, one parent will be required to send monetary payments to the other parent.
Residential parents usually do not pay child support, since they are expected to use the child support payments received from the other parent as well as their own funds to provide for their children.
How is Child Support Determined?
In Ohio, like many other states, child support is not left up to a judge or any other person, but is calculated using a simple formula that takes two primary factors into account.
First, both parents will have their combined gross (pre-tax) income combined. Then, a basic support obligation will be calculated. This is based on the number of children, using a table that’s been developed by the Ohio courts.
Using this information, a percentage of combined monthly gross income is determined for child support – and then, the support obligation for each parent is determined. If you’d like to try this out for yourself, the State of Ohio has a simple calculator you can access here to see how much you might pay.
When Does Child Support End?
In Ohio, both parents are legally obligated to provide financial support for their kids to ensure their basic needs are met until the child turns 18 AND graduates from high school.
So if your child is 18 years old but is still enrolled as a full-time student at an accredited high school, your child support obligation will continue until they graduate. However, once they reach 19 years of age, child support obligations end regardless of schooling status.
Can A Child Support Order Be Modified?
Yes. Generally speaking, though, child support orders can only be reviewed every 36 months from the date of initial order establishment, or the date of the last review. However, there are some exceptions. An early review may be granted for:
- Layoffs from work for 30 days or longer or unemployment
- A major decrease or increase in income
- A major decrease or increase in the cost of health insurance or child care
- Active military duty
- A permanent disability
- Incarceration or institutionalization of one parent
Depending on the circumstances of the review, the order may be modified to decrease or increase child support, or there may be no change.
Contact A Warren, Ohio Child Support Attorney For Professional Representation
Working with a child support attorney can help you understand the process and protect your interests and the interests of your child. Whether you’re going through initial divorce proceedings or need help with a child support modification request, Hunt Law is here to help. Contact us online or give us a call at 330.469.9836 to schedule a consultation with Adam Hunt right away.