Key Factors Courts Consider When Determining Child Support Obligations
Dec. 1, 2025
Making sure that children receive financial support from both parents is a critical part of Ohio family law. When parents separate or divorce, child support helps maintain stability in a child’s daily life by covering essential needs such as housing, food, clothing, education, and medical care.
At Douglas A. Ball Attorney at Law, we assist families in Batavia, Ohio, and throughout Batavia, Clermont, Hamilton, Brown, and Warren Counties, by helping them understand how support obligations are calculated and enforced.
As a child-focused area of law, child support is determined by state guidelines. Courts consider many factors to ensure the amount ordered reflects the child's needs and the financial abilities of both parents. As a child support lawyer, we guide parents through this process so they understand what to expect and what information will be most important.
Ohio’s Child Support Guidelines
Ohio uses a standardized formula to calculate child support. This formula considers factors such as income, childcare expenses, medical insurance, and parenting time. While the guidelines provide a foundation, courts have the authority to deviate when circumstances make the guideline amount unfair or inappropriate.
The primary goal is always the same: support the child’s best interests with reasonable and consistent financial contributions from both parents.
Key Factors Courts Review in Setting Support
There is no single factor that determines the outcome. Courts evaluate several areas when deciding how much support one parent must pay.
Here are the key elements courts weigh most heavily in Ohio:
Gross income of each parent: All earnings from employment, self-employment, retirement funds, and other income sources are included.
Existing support obligations: Payments already owed for other children or former spouses can impact the amount owed in a new case.
Healthcare and insurance costs: Support must reflect who covers the child’s medical, dental, and vision insurance.
Childcare and educational expenses: Necessary care and schooling costs are added into the calculation.
Number of children involved: Larger families typically result in adjusted support levels.
Parenting time (or “overnights”): Shared parenting schedules can affect support amounts when both parents spend significant time with the child.
Special needs of the child: Medical or developmental needs may increase required payments.
As a child support lawyer, we help clients gather the documentation needed to support each of these considerations.
Parental Income
Income is one of the biggest drivers of support decisions. Ohio defines income broadly to prevent misrepresentation or intentional undervaluation.
Courts may count:
Wages and salary
Overtime and bonuses
Pension or retirement payments
Rental income
Business profits
Unemployment benefits
Attempts to hide income or remain underemployed can work against a parent. Courts may impute income if they believe a parent is capable of earning more than they report. Our child support lawyer frequently assists clients with presenting accurate income information to ensure fairness.
Mandatory and Allowable Deductions
The state permits certain deductions when determining a parent’s income for support purposes. These deductions can include:
Taxes
Mandatory retirement contributions
Union dues
Court-ordered support for other dependents
We help parents review which deductions apply so they understand how their net income will appear in the final calculation.
Medical and Healthcare Considerations
Healthcare plays a major role in support cases. Courts want to ensure that children have ongoing access to essential care.
Health insurance coverage: One parent may be responsible for securing and maintaining coverage if available at a reasonable cost.
Uninsured expenses: Co-pays, prescriptions, and specialist visits may be split based on income percentages.
When a child has chronic medical conditions or disability-related expenses, courts may adjust support amounts to reflect those needs.
Childcare and Educational Costs
Working parents often rely on childcare during employment hours. These necessary costs are included in the support worksheet when supported by receipts or documentation.
Educational costs may also be considered, particularly when a child attends specialized schooling or requires tutoring services related to developmental needs.
As a child support lawyer, we help parents present detailed expense records so these costs are properly factored into the court’s determination.
Shared Parenting Arrangements
Parenting time can influence support obligations—particularly when parents share responsibilities relatively equally. Ohio courts may adjust child support when:
Parents share near-equal time
Each maintains a household suitable for the child
Both contribute substantially to daily care
However, shared parenting alone does not mean support will be eliminated. Courts still want children to enjoy a similar level of financial stability in each home.
Standard of Living and Household Stability
A separation or divorce should not drastically alter a child’s living conditions. Courts aim to maintain financial consistency wherever possible.
Evaluators may look at:
Housing arrangements
Ability to provide necessary items like clothing and meals
Recreational and school activity access
The court often seeks to mirror the family’s standard of living before separation if circumstances allow.
Special Needs and Unique Circumstances
Every child has unique needs. When those needs involve additional expenses, support must be modified to reflect them.
Examples include:
Long-term medical treatment
Special education services
Therapy and behavioral support
These costs are often unpredictable, so detailed planning and ongoing documentation help assure continued support.
Number of Dependents Involved
When a parent supports more than one child—either in the same case or from different relationships—the court must divide financial obligations fairly.
The state’s formula ensures that each child receives an equitable share without overburdening the parent.
Deviations From the Guidelines
Although Ohio’s guidelines create consistency, judges can deviate from the standard calculation when special circumstances exist.
Potential reasons for deviation include:
Extraordinary medical or educational expenses: The guideline amount may be too low.
Substantial travel expenses for parenting time: Support may reflect the cost of maintaining contact between households.
Significant parenting time adjustments: If a parent provides more hands-on care than expected, support may change.
Income disparity between households: Courts may ensure the child enjoys reasonable living conditions in both homes.
Our child support lawyer helps clients understand when a deviation is appropriate and how evidence should be presented.
Required Supporting Documentation
Courts expect clear proof for every financial claim made during the process. Proper documentation strengthens the support calculation and reduces the risk of disputes.
Common documentation includes:
Employment and income statements: Pay stubs, tax returns, W-2s, business records.
Childcare invoices: Proof of current and projected costs.
Insurance statements: Evidence of premiums and coverage scope.
Educational or medical records: Showing the necessity of recurring costs.
We assist parents in compiling these records to avoid delays or removal of includable expenses.
Situations Requiring Court Review or Adjustment
Support orders do not remain static forever. Changes in either parent’s circumstances may require a modification.
Common modification reasons include:
Job loss
Major income increase or decrease
A change in parenting time
Shifts in the child’s needs
Healthcare or childcare cost changes
Courts review these updates to ensure that support remains fair and continues meeting the child’s evolving needs.
Enforcement of Support Obligations
When a parent fails to pay court-ordered support, there are enforcement options available. These may include:
Income withholding: Payments deducted directly from wages.
Contempt of court actions: Legal penalties for non-compliance.
Intercepted tax refunds: Funds applied to overdue payments.
License suspension: Including driver’s licenses and professional permits.
Enforcement prioritizes collecting unpaid support while encouraging long-term compliance rather than punishment.
Supporting the Child’s Best Interests
Child support is not about one parent winning or losing—it’s about assuring that children have the resources necessary to thrive. When financial requirements are calculated thoughtfully, children are better equipped with stability during major life changes.
Our goal as a child support lawyer is to help families secure a support structure that protects the child today and into the future.
Dedicated Legal Counsel
At Douglas A. Ball Attorney at Law, we represent parents in Batavia, Ohio, and throughout Batavia, Clermont, Hamilton, Brown, and Warren Counties as they work through child support questions and court proceedings. As a dedicated child support lawyer, we help families understand the key factors that influence support obligations so they can move forward with clarity and confidence. Call us today to learn more.