What income counts toward the calculation?

Gross income under ORC 3119.01 includes wages, salaries, overtime, bonuses, commissions, self-employment income, rental and investment income, Social Security and disability benefits, workers' compensation, unemployment benefits, pensions, spousal support received, royalties, trust income, and military pay including base pay and allowances.

How does the Basic Child Support Schedule work?

The schedule under ORC 3119.021 begins at a guideline income of $8,400 and increases in $600 increments up to $300,000, with the obligation set at the intersection of the guideline income row and the column for the number of children on the order.

How do I request a modification in Ohio?

You're entitled to a full CSEA review every 36 months without proving a change in circumstances. Requesting a review sooner requires demonstrating a substantial change, and the recalculated amount generally must differ by at least 10% from the current order under ORC 3119.79.

How is child support enforced in Ohio?

The Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA) issues a direct order to the employer to deduct current support and any arrears from the obligor's paycheck, bonuses, or disability benefits, but only after the signed Judgment Entry is received by CSEA.

Ohio, United States

Ohio Child Support: A Parent's Guide

Q: How is child support calculated in Ohio?

Using an income shares model under Ohio Revised Code Chapter 3119: each parent's income share is the percentage derived from comparing their own annual income (after allowable deductions and credits) to the total combined annual income of both parents, applied to the Basic Child Support Schedule.

How child support works in Ohio, in plain English: the income shares guidelines, the 3-year CSEA review, and enforcement.

Legal sources reviewed: August 10, 2026

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In short: Ohio applies an income shares model with a defined schedule running from $8,400 to $300,000 in combined guideline income. Every parent gets an automatic CSEA review every 36 months with no need to prove anything changed, and a recalculation generally must differ by at least 10% to trigger a modification outside that window.

This is an educational overview written for parents, not lawyers. It isn't legal advice. For anything beyond general understanding, talk to a licensed Ohio family law attorney.

What Ohio generally provides

Under Ohio Revised Code Chapter 3119, child support uses an income shares model requiring both parents to contribute proportionally based on combined gross income. Each parent's income share is the percentage derived from comparing their own annual income, after allowable deductions and credits, to the total combined annual income of both parents.

Important terminology

Basic Child Support Schedule: Ohio's guideline table under ORC 3119.021, running from $8,400 to $300,000 in $600 increments.
CSEA: the county Child Support Enforcement Agency, responsible for reviews, modification recommendations, and enforcement.
10% deviation threshold: the general benchmark a recalculated amount must meet to qualify for a modification outside the automatic 36-month review.

How the calculation works

Combining income against a defined schedule

The schedule sets the base obligation for one to six or more children, starting at a guideline income of $8,400 and increasing in $600 increments through $300,000. The obligation amount sits at the intersection of the guideline income row and the column for the number of children on the order.

What counts as gross income

Under ORC 3119.01, gross income is broad: wages, salaries, overtime, bonuses, commissions, self-employment income, rental and investment income, Social Security benefits (including disability), workers' compensation, unemployment benefits, pensions, spousal support received, royalties, trust income, and military pay, including base pay and allowances.

Parents are ordered to share childcare costs, with the paying parent responsible for their income share of the actual childcare cost incurred for the children on the order, on top of the basic obligation.

Requesting or defending a modification

Every parent is entitled to a full CSEA review every 36 months without needing to prove anything changed. Requesting a review before that 36-month mark requires showing a substantial change in circumstances, such as a significant income change, job loss, or parenting-time change, and the recalculated figure generally needs to differ from the current order by at least 10% to qualify under ORC 3119.79. CSEA issues its recommendations to both parents, which become the modified order if neither objects; either parent can object within 14 days by requesting an administrative hearing, and can further object to that decision by filing with the court within another 14 days. See the child support calculator and guideline finder for jurisdiction-specific calculation sources and guidance.

How enforcement works

The Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA) issues a direct order to the employer to deduct current support and arrears from the obligor's paycheck, bonuses, or disability benefits. CSEA can't issue a wage withholding order until the signed Judgment Entry is received from the court.

Common questions

Do I have to wait 3 years to change my support amount? Not if you can show a substantial change in circumstances sooner, though a full no-questions-asked review is guaranteed every 36 months regardless.

What counts as enough of a change to modify early? Ohio generally looks for roughly a 10% difference between the current order and a fresh calculation, alongside evidence of the underlying change (income, parenting time, etc.).

What if my co-parent isn't paying? Contact your county CSEA, which can escalate wage withholding, intercept tax refunds, and pursue other enforcement tools once the underlying order is in its system.

Practical considerations

Because Ohio's 36-month review cycle runs regardless of whether anything has changed, mark that date and use it proactively rather than waiting for a dispute to force the issue, and loop in your county CSEA or a family law attorney if your situation changes meaningfully before then. For the custody and shared-parenting rules that often factor into a support review, see the Ohio custody guide.

Official Ohio resources

FAQ

Questions, answered

This information is provided for educational purposes only and is not legal advice. Family law varies by individual circumstances and may change over time. Consult a qualified attorney or appropriate official resource for advice about your situation.