Columbus Child Support Lawyer

Direct Access to Attorney Morris. Over 33 Years of Ohio Family Law Experience.

All parents in the United States are required by law to support their children. In divorced households, child support is determined by the court so that both parents, regardless of custody, provide for the basic needs of their children.

Child support covers basic needs, including:

• Clothing
• Food
• Shelter
• Health insurance
• Tutoring and education
• Summer camps
• Other ancillary needs

Ohio law requires biological parents, adoptive parents, and anyone who has acknowledged paternity in a legal document to pay child support. In Ohio, that obligation is separate from and in addition to the general parental duty of support applicable to married couples. Child support laws apply to both married and unmarried parents once paternity is legally established. We assist unmarried parents in Franklin County, Delaware County, and Fairfield County who need to arrange their child’s financial support.

If you have questions about child support obligations in Columbus, call us at 614-656-4252 to schedule an initial consultation.

How Ohio Calculates Child Support

Ohio uses a Basic Child Support Schedule administered by the Department of Job and Family Services to determine support obligations. The schedule covers combined annual parental incomes from $8,400 to $336,600 and accounts for up to six children. Every calculation begins with both parents’ combined gross income, which includes wages, commissions, workers’ compensation benefits, Social Security benefits, and any other income, excluding government assistance such as food stamps or disability payments.

Income Deductions & Cost Adjustments

Before the guideline figure is applied, the court allows certain deductions from gross income, including local income tax, spousal or child support paid for other relationships, and the value of federal dependency exemptions for other dependents. Work-related childcare costs and the cost of health insurance for the children are also factored into the final calculation. Ohio’s current guidelines apply to orders issued or modified on or after June 2023, so orders established years ago may look very different from what the schedule produces today.

Imputed Income & Voluntary Unemployment

If the court finds that a parent is voluntarily unemployed or underemployed to reduce their support obligation, it may impute potential income based on what that parent is capable of earning. No parent of reasonable health and earning capacity can sidestep support by simply choosing not to work.

Deviation from the Guideline Amount

Courts may deviate from the guideline amount when strict application would be unjust or not in the child’s best interests. Recognized deviation factors include a child’s special needs, extended parenting time, extraordinary travel costs, a significant disparity in household income, and the standard of living the child would have enjoyed had the family remained together. A nonresidential parent who exercises 90 or more overnight visits per year may qualify for a 10% reduction in their support obligation.

Modifying & Enforcing Child Support Orders in Ohio

A child support order isn’t permanent. Either parent may request that Ohio’s Child Support Enforcement Agency review the order every three years, or either parent may petition Franklin County Domestic Relations Court directly for a modification by showing a substantial change in circumstances not anticipated when the last order was entered. When a modification is sought, the court recalculates support under the current guidelines. If the recalculated amount differs from the existing order by more than 10%, that difference qualifies as a substantial change of circumstances.

When a parent fails to pay court-ordered support, the consequences are serious. Enforcement tools include wage garnishment, interception of tax refunds, and suspension of driver’s and professional licenses. A parent who willfully refuses to pay can face contempt of court, and under Ohio Revised Code Section 2919.21, criminal prosecution for nonsupport of dependents can result in a sentence of up to 18 months per child not supported. We handle both initial child support matters and modifications of existing orders, and we can pursue enforcement when a paying parent isn’t meeting their obligation.

A Columbus Child Support Attorney Who Knows Your Case

At Richard L. Morris Co., L.P.A, you won’t work with anyone but Attorney Richard L. Morris. Cases aren’t distributed to paralegals or junior staff. When you need answers, you get them from the attorney who knows your file, often within the hour. That direct access matters when circumstances shift and you need a clear read on your options fast.

Attorney Morris has more than 33 years of experience in Ohio family law, and the firm holds an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau with BBB Accreditation since 2010. Whether your situation calls for a negotiated resolution or courtroom advocacy, we bring the same preparation to both. We serve clients throughout Franklin County, Delaware County, and Fairfield County, handling initial orders, modifications, and enforcement proceedings.

Contact our law firm at 614-656-4252 for an initial consultation.