Child Support Is More Than Just A Formula
As you surf the internet, you will see pages called child support calculators. Do not rely on them. These calculators are simplistic and usually overlook significant factors affecting income and expense.
Our firm has been in the family law business in Ohio for over 40 years. Our reputation among other lawyers, with whom we lock professional horns, could not be stronger. We also assist with enforcement and modification efforts further down the road.
Determining Child Support
Ohio uses the income shares method for calculating child support. This is determined by combining the gross income of both parents on a worksheet. A formula then determines basic child support based on those numbers.
Courts can consider these factors, among others, when determining the amount of child support:
- Each parent’s income from all sources and his or her potential earning power.
- The cost necessary for a parent to generate his or her income.
- The custody and visitation schedule the parents follow and how much time each parent spends with the child
- Any special needs the child has – medical, educational, etc.
- The cost health care coverage
- The cost of any work-related childcare.
Child support payments are not considered taxable income and, by law, must be paid through the Child Support Enforcement Agency.
Terminating Child Support
Child support orders usually have a clear beginning, but it isn’t always as obvious to know when and how support ends or if it can end early. Child support often stops when a child turns 18. However, it does not end automatically and can be terminated earlier or later, depending on the circumstances. Child support can also continue beyond a child’s 18th birthday if the child has not graduated from high school or has special needs and is not able to care for himself or herself.
Child support may be canceled for various reasons, including:
- Changes in legal custody or parenting rights
- The child gets married
- The child enlists in the military on a full-time basis
- The child is deported
- The parent has died
- The child has died
The recipient of child support is typically responsible for confirming with the Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA) that child support should be terminated. If you have questions about terminating child support or need guidance on cancelling the order early, contact Sowald Sowald Anderson Hawley & Johnson to get the assistance you need.
Call Us Today For High-Quality Child Support Representation
How important is an attorney in determining child support? It depends largely on the intentions of the other parent. If he or she is determined to obtain an unfair advantage, you will be obliged to respond firmly. A significant amount of money will be on the table. You can’t afford to be treated unfairly.
We invite you to learn what our competition already knows – that Sowald Sowald Anderson Hawley & Johnson sets the standard for family law in and around Columbus.
Call our attorneys at 380-217-3322 or email us using this online form.
