Important Questions About Spousal Support and Child Support

Is there a formula for calculating spousal support?

In Ohio there is not a formula for determining spousal support. In every litigated case, a court must take into consideration 14 separate factors listed in the Ohio statutes to determine if spousal support is reasonable and appropriate. When you negotiate a settlement in Collaborative Law or Mediation, you are free to use any measure of fairness that will be acceptable to both parties. Most people consider the length of the marriage and any disparity in earning capacities or income.

How long is the child support obligation in Ohio?

In Ohio, a child support obligation lasts until a child is 18 and has graduated from an accredited high school; or turns 19 if the child is still attending high school, but has not yet graduated.

Can our children choose where they want to live?

It is the parents’ decision to decide where their minor children will live. It is up to each set of parents to determine what is in their children’s best interest.

Is there a difference between spousal support and alimony?

No, they’re the same thing and the labels are interchangeable.

Do we have to exchange child support?

Not in every case. Some parents decide to fashion agreements concerning how to pay for child-related expenses, how to share parenting time, and how to allocate income between households that negate the necessity for exchange of child support. Perhaps the parents have equal incomes and they have worked out an agreement to share their child-related expenses. Ohio’s child support worksheet has a line in it, where parents, in the appropriate situation, can set forth their reasons for zero child support.

Does your office handle LBGTQ divorce and custody?

Yes, we do when the parties wish to settle their differences and child-related issues by Mediation or the Collaborative Process.