Updated: 2026-06-11
Quick answer: Ohio uses the income-shares model: both parents’ gross incomes are combined, matched to the state basic child support schedule (Ohio Revised Code § 3119.021), and split in proportion to what each earns. A 2019 overhaul (House Bill 366) updated the schedule for the first time in 26 years, raised the income ceiling to $336,000 a year, set an $80 monthly minimum, and added a 10% support reduction for a parent with 90 or more overnights a year. County Child Support Enforcement Agencies run cases under the state Office of Child Support, payments flow through Ohio Child Support Payment Central, and support generally ends at 18 — or at high school graduation, no later than 19.
Legal disclaimer: This article is general information, not legal advice. Child support rules and amounts change, and your case can vary from the guidelines. For your specific situation, consult a family-law attorney licensed in Ohio.
Ohio updated its child support math in 2019 after 26 years, so older guidance online understates many orders. The state combines both parents’ incomes rather than looking at just one, and a single feature — crossing 90 overnights a year — can lower the paying parent’s obligation by 10%. This guide explains the current formula, walks through an example, and points to every official place to apply, pay, and manage a case.
One quick clarification before the details: child support is separate from spousal support, the Ohio term for what many people call “alimony.” Spousal support is money paid to a former spouse; child support is for the children, and the two are decided under different rules. This guide covers child support only.
Table of Contents
- How is child support calculated in Ohio?
- What counts as income?
- How does parenting time affect child support?
- What changed in Ohio child support in 2019?
- How much is child support in Ohio? A worked example
- Does Ohio child support include medical and childcare costs?
- How do you apply for child support in Ohio?
- How do you pay child support in Ohio?
- How do you check your Ohio child support balance online?
- How do you modify an Ohio child support order?
- What happens if you don’t pay child support in Ohio?
- How long does child support last in Ohio?
- Official Ohio child support resources
- Frequently Asked Questions
How is child support calculated in Ohio?
Ohio uses the income-shares model, built on a simple idea: a child should receive the same share of the parents’ combined income that they would have if the family lived together. So instead of looking at one parent’s pay, Ohio adds both parents’ incomes together and divides the resulting obligation between them.
The rules are set out in Ohio Revised Code Chapter 3119, with the basic child support schedule in § 3119.021. The calculation runs in steps:
| Step | What happens |
|---|---|
| 1. Find each parent’s gross income | Start with annual gross income from nearly every source |
| 2. Combine the incomes | Both parents’ incomes are added together |
| 3. Find the basic obligation | The combined income and number of children are matched to Ohio’s basic child support schedule |
| 4. Split by income share | Each parent is responsible for their own percentage of the combined income |
| 5. Apply credits and add-ons | A 90-overnight parenting-time credit, childcare, and health costs adjust the result |
Ohio’s schedule covers combined annual incomes up to $336,000. Above that, the court decides additional support based on the children’s needs. Because both incomes matter, the parent who earns more and has the children fewer overnights usually ends up paying — but the amount reflects both sides, not just the payer’s paycheck.
What counts as income?
Ohio defines gross income broadly under § 3119.01: wages, salary, tips, commissions, bonuses, overtime, self-employment income, rental and investment income, pensions, Social Security benefits, unemployment, and workers’ compensation. Means-tested public assistance — like Ohio Works First (TANF) and SNAP — does not count.
From there, the worksheet allows certain adjustments before the split, such as support a parent already pays for other children, local income taxes, and mandatory work-related deductions. The result drives each parent’s proportional share of the combined obligation.
How does parenting time affect child support?
It can lower the obligation through a clear threshold. Under Ohio Revised Code § 3119.051, when the paying parent has a court-ordered parenting-time schedule of 90 or more overnights a year, the support obligation is automatically reduced by 10%.
A few details matter:
- It’s a cliff, not a slope. There’s no partial credit below 90 overnights — you either reach the threshold or you don’t.
- It applies to the base obligation, not to add-ons like childcare or medical costs.
- More time can mean more. When parenting time substantially exceeds 90 overnights, a court can grant an additional deviation under § 3119.231 on top of the automatic 10%.
Our guide to how a 50/50 schedule affects support explains how an equal split changes the math, since equal time clears the 90-overnight line comfortably.
What changed in Ohio child support in 2019?
House Bill 366 took effect March 28, 2019, and it was Ohio’s first real guideline update in 26 years. Four changes matter most:
- The schedule was modernized. The income ceiling jumped from $150,000 to $336,000 a year, and the underlying support figures were refreshed — so many orders calculated under the new schedule come out differently.
- The minimum order rose from $50 to $80 a month.
- A self-sufficiency reserve was added to protect low-income parents whose income falls near the federal poverty level from orders they can’t realistically pay.
- The 90-overnight credit was codified, giving the paying parent an automatic 10% reduction at that threshold.
These changes apply to orders established or modified on or after March 28, 2019. An existing order keeps its current numbers until someone asks for a recalculation.
How much is child support in Ohio? A worked example
Because Ohio blends both incomes, parenting time, and add-ons, there’s no single percentage to memorize. Here’s how the split works with simple numbers.
Say Parent A earns $60,000 a year and Parent B earns $30,000, for a combined $90,000. Parent A brings in two-thirds of the total, so Parent A is responsible for two-thirds of the basic obligation and Parent B for one-third:
| Parent A | Parent B | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual income | $60,000 | $30,000 |
| Share of combined income | 67% | 33% |
| Share of a $12,000 basic obligation* | ~$8,000 | ~$4,000 |
*The $12,000 here is illustrative only. Your actual basic obligation comes from Ohio’s § 3119.021 schedule, and the 90-overnight credit and add-ons then adjust each parent’s share.
In this example, the parent with fewer overnights generally pays their share to the other parent; if that parent has 90 or more overnights, their obligation drops 10%. Then each parent’s portion of childcare and the child’s health costs is added on the same two-thirds/one-third split. Ohio does not publish a free public calculator — the official tool is the statutory child support computation worksheet (sole or shared parenting), which your CSEA or attorney completes. Treat any estimate as just that — the court has the final say, and the $80 monthly minimum applies at the low end.
Does Ohio child support include medical and childcare costs?
Yes. Beyond the basic obligation, Ohio addresses health care and childcare, split between the parents by income share:
- Health insurance — the court orders coverage for the child when it’s available at reasonable cost, and the premium is factored into the worksheet.
- Cash medical support — when private insurance isn’t available or reasonable, the court orders a set dollar amount toward the child’s medical costs, stacked on top of base support.
- Uninsured and extraordinary medical costs — out-of-pocket bills above the ordinary amount are divided between the parents.
- Work-related childcare — daycare or after-school care a parent needs to work is added and shared by income share.
Each parent pays their share on top of the basic number, so the total is usually higher than the schedule amount alone. Keep clear records of who pays what; our guide to documenting co-parenting expenses explains how to track reimbursements so they hold up if there’s ever a disagreement.
How do you apply for child support in Ohio?
Ohio child support is delivered through County Child Support Enforcement Agencies (CSEAs), coordinated by the Office of Child Support within the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. Applying is free, and anyone in Ohio with a child can apply regardless of income.
You apply through your local county CSEA, which can locate a parent, establish paternity, set or modify an order, and enforce payment. The state’s Office of Child Support lists services and connects you to your county agency. Parents who already have an order from a divorce or custody case can enroll it so payments are processed and tracked by the state. If your case is part of a broader custody filing, our overview of how the custody court process works explains how the pieces fit together.
How do you pay child support in Ohio?
All Ohio child support payments run through Ohio Child Support Payment Central (CSPC), the state’s central processing center. You don’t pay the other parent directly — paying through CSPC creates the official record that the payment was made.
The most common method is an income withholding order (wage withholding), where the amount comes straight out of the paying parent’s paycheck. Parents can also pay on their own:
- Online by electronic check or card through the state’s child support payment site
- By phone through Child Support Payment Central at (888) 965-2676
- By mail to Ohio CSPC, PO Box 182372, Columbus, OH 43218
Include your case number or SETS number on every payment. Electronic payments post faster than a mailed check, so don’t wait until the due date if you’re paying manually.
How do you check your Ohio child support balance online?
Ohio runs a Child Support Customer Service Web Portal where both parents can view case and payment information, report changes, and message a caseworker. You register and log in to the portal with your own credentials.
Inside your account you can see your support order, payment history, and the information on file, and find your case (SETS) number, which you’ll need for payments and any call to the agency. The portal is the quickest way to confirm a payment posted without calling. For help by phone, the statewide Customer Service Call Center is (800) 686-1556, and your county CSEA handles in-person questions.
How do you modify an Ohio child support order?
An Ohio order can be changed when circumstances change, and the state uses a clear math test. Under Ohio Revised Code § 3119.79, if recalculating support under the current guidelines would change the amount by 10% or more, that difference is treated as a change of circumstances that justifies a modification.
You can also ask your CSEA to review the order every 36 months without having to prove a change first. Between those reviews, you generally need a substantial change — a significant income shift, job loss, or a change in the children’s needs. One caution: support doesn’t change on its own when your income drops — the old amount keeps running until a new order is entered, so request a review promptly rather than waiting. If you and the other parent agree, our guide to reaching a custody agreement without a court fight is a good starting point.
What happens if you don’t pay child support in Ohio?
Ohio enforces support orders with a wide set of tools, and the CSEA can use most of them administratively. When payments fall behind, the state can:
- Withhold income directly from wages and other payments
- Suspend a driver’s license, professional license, or recreational license
- Intercept state and federal tax refunds and lottery winnings
- Place liens on property and bank accounts
- Report the debt to credit bureaus
- Deny or revoke a U.S. passport when arrears reach $2,500
- Pursue the case in court, including a contempt action that can carry jail time
Unpaid Ohio support keeps building, has no statute of limitations, and can’t be erased in bankruptcy — arrears remain collectible long after the child is grown. If you genuinely can’t pay, request a modification rather than letting a balance accumulate.
How long does child support last in Ohio?
Ohio support generally ends at 18, with a high-school exception and no college obligation. Under Ohio Revised Code § 3119.86 and related law:
- Still in high school: if the child is 18 but still attending an accredited high school full-time, support continues until graduation or age 19, whichever comes first.
- A disabled child: support can continue for a child who is unable to support themselves because of a disability that began before adulthood.
- Earlier end: support ends if the child marries, enlists full-time in the military, or is otherwise emancipated.
No college obligation applies — Ohio does not require parents to pay for college or post-secondary education as part of a child support order. Parents moving from a state that orders college contributions are often surprised by that.
Official Ohio child support resources
Every link below goes to an official Ohio source — the Office of Child Support, the customer service portal, Child Support Payment Central, or the Revised Code. Bookmark the ones you’ll use.
| Resource | What it’s for | Official link |
|---|---|---|
| Office of Child Support (ODJFS) | Services and your county CSEA | jfs.ohio.gov child support |
| Customer Service Web Portal | View your case and payment history | childsupport.ohio.gov |
| Payment site (CSPC) | Make a payment online | oh.smartchildsupport.com |
| ORC § 3119.021 | The basic child support schedule | codes.ohio.gov 3119.021 |
| ORC § 3119.051 | The 90-overnight 10% reduction | codes.ohio.gov 3119.051 |
| ORC § 3119.79 | Modifying an order (10% rule) | codes.ohio.gov 3119.79 |
| Phone — Payment Central | Make a payment by phone | (888) 965-2676 |
| Phone — Customer Service | Case questions | (800) 686-1556 |
If you and the other parent can agree on the numbers, a written agreement reviewed by the court is faster and cheaper than a contested case; our guides to reaching a custody agreement without a court fight and how a 50/50 schedule affects support are good starting points. Comparing states? See our guides to child support in Colorado and child support in Florida, which use different income-shares rules, and child support in Texas, which uses a flat percentage of the paying parent’s income. For how every state’s rules compare, see our child support by state overview.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is child support calculated in Ohio?
Ohio uses the income-shares model under Revised Code Chapter 3119. Both parents’ gross incomes are added together and matched to the basic child support schedule (§ 3119.021) to find a basic obligation, which is then split between the parents in proportion to their incomes. A 10% reduction applies if the paying parent has 90 or more court-ordered overnights a year, and childcare and health costs are added on the same proportional split. The official computation worksheet does the math.
How much is child support for one child in Ohio?
There’s no flat percentage — the amount depends on both parents’ combined income, the parenting schedule, and add-ons like childcare and health insurance. The basic obligation comes from the § 3119.021 schedule and rises with combined income up to the $336,000 annual cap, with an $80 monthly minimum at the low end. The only reliable figure comes from running your actual numbers through the official worksheet.
Did Ohio child support change in 2019?
Yes. House Bill 366 took effect March 28, 2019 — Ohio’s first real guideline update in 26 years. It modernized the schedule, raised the income ceiling from $150,000 to $336,000 a year, raised the minimum order from $50 to $80 a month, added a self-sufficiency reserve for low-income parents, and codified the 10% reduction for a parent with 90 or more overnights. The changes apply to orders set or modified on or after that date.
Do you still pay child support with 50/50 custody in Ohio?
Often, but less. With an equal schedule, the paying parent clears the 90-overnight threshold and gets the automatic 10% reduction, and a court can grant a further deviation for substantial extra time. When parents split time equally and earn similar incomes, the support transfer can be small. When one parent earns significantly more, that parent usually still pays something even with equal time, because the formula evens out the children’s standard of living between two homes.
At what age does child support end in Ohio?
Usually 18. Ohio support generally ends at 18, but it continues if the child is still attending an accredited high school full-time — until graduation or age 19, whichever comes first. It can also continue for a child who can’t support themselves because of a disability, and it ends earlier if the child marries, enlists full-time in the military, or is otherwise emancipated.
Does Ohio child support cover college or daycare?
Daycare, yes — work-related childcare is added to the obligation and split between the parents by income share. College, no — Ohio support ends at 18 or high school graduation, and the state does not require parents to pay for college or post-secondary education as part of a child support order.
How do I pay child support in Ohio?
All payments go through Ohio Child Support Payment Central (CSPC). The most common method is wage withholding straight from a paycheck. You can also pay online by electronic check or card at the state payment site, by phone at (888) 965-2676, or by mail to Ohio CSPC, PO Box 182372, Columbus, OH 43218. Always include your case or SETS number so the payment is credited correctly.
What happens if you don’t pay child support in Ohio?
The CSEA can withhold wages, suspend driver’s, professional, and recreational licenses, intercept tax refunds and lottery winnings, place liens, report the debt to credit bureaus, deny a passport once arrears reach $2,500, and pursue contempt that can carry jail time. Unpaid Ohio support has no statute of limitations and can’t be discharged in bankruptcy, so request a modification if you can’t keep up rather than letting a balance build.
Note: This article is general information, not legal advice. Child support laws and amounts change, and individual cases vary. For decisions about your specific situation, consult a family-law attorney licensed in Ohio.
