What has changed and how will it affect established Child Support Orders versus future Child Support Orders?
In 2019 child support guidelines in Ohio were updated. The guidelines used prior to March, 2019 had not been revised since they were established in the 1980’s.
Many of the changes made reflect a more accurate representation of present day income and expenses. But what does this mean for child support Orders which are already in place? What are the differences you should expect for new child support Orders going forward? The components to focus on are which factors have been changed, updated or even removed altogether. Here is a brief breakdown of some significant changes in Ohio’s Guidelines to determining support orders and how it could affect individuals whether they are the Obligor (paying child support) or the Obligee (receiving child support):
Now, Ohio requires both parents to share annual child care costs. There are specific factors in which the Court of Child Support Enforcement Agency must take in to consideration when determining child care costs.
If a Court has issued a parenting time order that equals or exceeds 90 overnights per year in which a child spends with an Obligor, the Child Support Enforcement Agency or Court now has a standard requirement to reduce the annual child support obligation by 10%.
A parent or guardian obligated to provide private health insurance for a child or children will have the annual out of pocket cost of the plan (portion to provide health insurance in addition to individual cost) subtracted from the obligated parent or guardian’s gross income before going into the worksheet.
While these are only a few factors in Ohio’s child support guideline update, there are many remaining components which should be taken into consideration to avoid inadvertent implications if not applied under appropriate circumstances. It is prudent to consult with an attorney prior to requesting a modification to a support order or establishing a new support order.
If you are seeking an adjustment to an existing support order or establishing a new support order, please contact our office and we would be happy to schedule a consultation today.