What income is used for Ohio child support calculations?

Ohio uses gross income before taxes, which includes wages, salaries, self-employment income, bonuses, commissions, overtime, rental income, pension or retirement income, and Social Security or disability benefits. Courts may also impute income if a parent is voluntarily underemployed. Business owners must add back certain deductions that reduce taxable income but represent available funds.

Does custody arrangement affect child support in Ohio?

Yes. In sole custody (primary parent has 90%+ of overnight time), the non-residential parent pays full support. In shared parenting (each parent has at least 90 overnights per year, roughly 25%), Ohio applies a parenting-time offset under ORC 3119.051 that reduces the support obligation based on each parent's parenting time percentage. The more time spent with the non-residential parent, the lower the net payment — but the base obligation still derives from combined income.

Are health insurance and childcare costs included in Ohio child support?

Yes, both are mandatory add-ons under ORC 3119.30. The cost of health insurance premiums paid for the child is allocated between parents proportionally to income and added to the base support. Work-related childcare costs (daycare, after-school care needed for employment) are similarly allocated and added. These additions are made after the base schedule amount is determined.

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

Ohio CSEA enforces child support through income withholding orders sent directly to employers, intercept of state and federal tax refunds, license suspension (driver's and professional), passport denial, property liens, and contempt of court proceedings. Willful non-payment can result in jail time. Ohio ranks among the highest-enforcement states for child support collection.

Ohio Child Support Calculator 2026

Q: Can Ohio child support be modified?

Yes. Either parent can request a modification if there has been a change in circumstances — including a 10% or greater change in income, job loss, change in custody, or a change in health insurance or childcare costs. Ohio CSEA also conducts administrative reviews every 36 months upon request. Modifications apply only from the date of the motion, not retroactively.

Q: How long does child support last in Ohio?

Ohio child support generally continues until the child turns 18, or until graduation from high school if the child is still enrolled and living with the residential parent — but no later than age 19. Courts can order support to continue beyond 18 for a child with a disability who cannot be self-supporting. Unlike alimony, there is no judicial discretion to shorten the support period below the statutory minimum.

Your Case Details

All fields are estimates. Ohio CSEA uses annual gross income.

Annual gross income — both parents ORC 3119.01

Parent A (Obligor)

Parent B (Obligee)

Number of children — subject to support order

Custody arrangement ORC 3119.051

Sole custody Shared (standard) Shared (near-equal) Split (one child each)

Parent A parenting time ORC 3119.051

30%

20%35%50%

Near-equal parenting time (40–50%) applies a higher offset credit under ORC 3119.051(B).

Health insurance premium for children ORC 3119.30 — monthly, paid by either parent

Paid by Parent A

Paid by Parent B

Work-related child care costs ORC 3119.30 — monthly, daycare/after-school

Paid by Parent A

Paid by Parent B

Additional adjustments — optional

None Existing support order Self-employed parent High income (>$150k combined)

⚠ This tool produces estimates, not legal advice. Ohio CSEA computes actual obligations using certified income documentation and the official schedule. Results here are directionally accurate for planning purposes only.

How Ohio Calculates Child Support

Ohio uses an income-shares model under ORC Chapter 3119. The premise: children should receive the same proportion of parental income they would have received if the household had stayed intact. Both parents' incomes are pooled, and the total obligation is allocated proportionally.

Step-by-step methodology

Step	What Happens	ORC Reference
1. Determine gross income	Each parent's annual gross income is calculated — wages, self-employment, bonuses, rental income, benefits. Courts may impute income if a parent is voluntarily underemployed.	ORC 3119.01(C)(7)
2. Apply the schedule	Combined gross income and number of children determine a base obligation from the Ohio Child Support Schedule. The schedule is a lookup table — higher combined income and more children produce a higher base obligation.	ORC 3119.021
3. Allocate by income share	Each parent's share of combined income determines their proportional share of the base obligation. Parent A earns 60% → obligated for 60% of the base.	ORC 3119.022
4. Add health insurance	Children's health insurance premiums paid by either parent are allocated proportionally between the parents and added to the obligation of the parent who doesn't pay the premium.	ORC 3119.30
5. Add work-related child care	Documented childcare costs necessary for either parent to work are allocated proportionally and added to the obligation of the parent who doesn't pay them.	ORC 3119.30
6. Parenting time offset	When the non-residential parent has at least 90 overnights per year (roughly 25%), a parenting time credit reduces the obligation. The more time, the larger the offset. Equal time (50/50) produces the maximum offset.	ORC 3119.051
7. Other adjustments	Existing support orders for other children, extraordinary medical expenses, and high-income deviations may further modify the amount. Courts have limited discretion to deviate from the schedule with findings.	ORC 3119.22–3119.23

Ohio Child Support Schedule (representative ranges)

The schedule produces a combined base obligation from both parents' income. Approximate monthly amounts below — actual values come from the official ODJFS schedule:

Combined Annual Income	1 Child	2 Children	3 Children
$30,000	~$350/mo	~$500/mo	~$610/mo
$60,000	~$600/mo	~$870/mo	~$1,060/mo
$100,000	~$880/mo	~$1,270/mo	~$1,540/mo
$150,000	~$1,180/mo	~$1,700/mo	~$2,050/mo
$200,000+	Court discretion	Court discretion	Court discretion

At incomes above approximately $150,000 combined, the schedule ceases to apply automatically. Courts use ORC 3119.04 to set a "fair and reasonable" amount based on the children's actual needs — which typically tracks the schedule but may deviate significantly in high-asset divorces.

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Shared Parenting and the Parenting Time Credit

Ohio's shared parenting credit under ORC 3119.051 is one of the most litigated aspects of child support calculations. The credit applies when the non-residential parent has 90 or more overnights per year (about 25% parenting time).

How the offset works:

90–109 overnights (25–30%): Modest offset — roughly 10–15% reduction in the net obligation.
110–129 overnights (30–35%): Moderate offset — 15–25% reduction.
130–182 overnights (35–50%): Significant offset — can reduce obligation by 25–40% depending on income split.
50/50 split: Maximum offset. If both parents earn similar incomes, support may be minimal or zero — but the higher-earning parent will still often owe something.

The offset does not apply to add-ons (health insurance, childcare) — those are allocated by income share regardless of parenting time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Ohio child support — 2026

How is child support calculated in Ohio? ▾

Ohio uses an income-shares model under ORC 3119. Both parents' gross incomes are combined, and a base obligation is determined from the Ohio Child Support Schedule. Each parent's share of that obligation is proportional to their income. Health insurance premiums and work-related childcare costs are added, then a parenting time credit is applied if the non-residential parent has 90+ overnights per year.

What counts as "income" for Ohio child support? ▾

Ohio uses gross income before taxes: wages, salary, self-employment income, commissions, bonuses, overtime, rental income, interest and dividends, pension and retirement benefits, Social Security, workers' compensation, and unemployment benefits. Courts can impute income if a parent is voluntarily underemployed or unemployed without justification. Self-employed parents must add back depreciation and business expenses that don't reflect actual available income.

Does 50/50 custody eliminate child support in Ohio? ▾

Not necessarily. Ohio's parenting time offset under ORC 3119.051 reduces — but rarely eliminates — child support when time is split equally. If both parents earn exactly the same income, the obligation may approach zero. But if Parent A earns $80k and Parent B earns $40k, Parent A will still owe something even with 50/50 time, because the obligation is income-based. The offset credit is meaningful (often 30–40%) but doesn't override the income-shares foundation.

How are health insurance and childcare costs handled? ▾

Both are mandatory add-ons under ORC 3119.30. The child's health insurance premium paid by either parent is allocated between the parents proportionally to their income share, and the parent who doesn't pay the premium owes their allocated share to the parent who does. Same for work-related childcare (daycare, after-school care needed for employment). These add-ons are calculated on top of the base schedule obligation and are not offset by parenting time credits.

Can Ohio child support be modified? ▾

Yes. Either parent can request a modification through CSEA or the court when there has been a change in circumstances — including a 10% or greater change in either parent's income, job loss, change in custody arrangement, change in health insurance, or change in childcare costs. CSEA is also required to review orders every 36 months upon request. Modifications apply from the date of the motion, not retroactively.

How long does child support last in Ohio? ▾

Ohio child support continues until the child turns 18, or until the child graduates high school if still enrolled and living with the residential parent — but no later than age 19. Support can also terminate upon the child's death, marriage, or emancipation. Courts may order support beyond 18 for a child with a disability who cannot become self-supporting. Unlike alimony, there is no judicial discretion to shorten the support period below the statutory minimum.

What if a parent refuses to pay or hides income? ▾

Ohio CSEA enforces child support through income withholding orders sent directly to employers (automatic for court-ordered support), state and federal tax refund intercepts, license suspension (driver's, professional, recreational), passport denial, property liens, and contempt of court. Willful non-payment is criminal under ORC 2919.21 and can result in up to 18 months imprisonment. Courts can also impute income if they find a parent is deliberately underreporting.

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