Ohio Child Custody & Ohio Child Support

It is always best if you and your ex can work out the details of raising your children cooperatively and without court intervention. In the long run, it is in the best interests of your child or children that you do so. If, however, there is conflict, the court can get involved and will always look to the best interests of the child or children in deciding issues of custody, visitation and support. Following are the laws governing Ohio child custody and Ohio child support.

Ohio Child Custody:

Ohio no longer uses the term child custody, but divides parental responsibility between the parents based on the best interests of the child or children. The court can’t enter an order for joint parenting unless the parents first submit a parenting plan for the court to review. If the parents don’t submit a plan, the court will name one parent residential parent and legal custodian. In making that decision the court will consider many factors, including the child’s preference and the child’s relationship with the parents.

Ohio Child Support:

Child support in Ohio is determined in accordance with the Income Shares Model for child support, where each parent’s income is considered in relative proportion. The support amounts calculated from each parent then help decide which parent must pay the other in order to maintain the correct proportion and provide for the needs of the child.

These guidelines are not always followed, but a decision to follow a different standard will require supportive evidence showing 1) all the factors that affect the parties financial obligations differently, and 2) how applying a standard other than the Income Shares Model will more effectively preserve the best interests of the child.

The factors that can be considered here are numerous, and include but are not limited to the following:

1. Pre-dissolution or pre-separation standard of living that the child enjoyed
2. Monetary support provided for other family members
3. Debts arising during the marriage for the child’s benefit
4. Imputed income to a party who is voluntarily unemployed for the child’s benefit
5. Court-ordered payments for health care and education for the child’s benefit
6. Children’s independent financial resources, if any
7. Education, training, and/or career opportunities of the parties and/or ability to pursue those things

A lawyer can help you sort through your rights and responsibilities when it comes to childrearing after a divorce, and serve as your advocate and/or counsel when negotiating a parenting agreement. You can find a lawyer at:

Ohio Divorce/Child Support/Child Custody Lawyers:
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