How Ohio Calculates Child Support

Ohio uses the Income Shares model to determine child support obligations. This page explains the guidelines, formula, and key factors.

Model Type

Income Shares (formula-based)

Ohio computes the basic obligation with the § 3119.021(B)(1) piecewise percentage formula over combined gross income, floored by a self-sufficiency reserve. A parent's own share is then independently reduced 10% if that parent has 90 or more court-ordered overnights per year.

Sources & Verification

Core formula verified; some gaps disclosed below

Guideline effective 2019-03-28 · last checked against the primary source 2026-08-12

Primary sources

Ohio Rev. Code § 3119.021 (basic child support schedule)Ohio Rev. Code § 3119.051 (parenting time reduction)Ohio Rev. Code § 3119.06 (minimum support order)

What this calculator doesn't yet handle

Pending verification: §3119.021(C) requires the guideline-income breakpoints and the self-sufficiency reserve (116% of the federal poverty level) to be updated every 4 years for CPI-U/FPL changes. This calculator uses the 2016/2019 baseline figures as published in the statute text; the actual current administrative-rule table (OAC 5101:12-1-17 / JFS 07767) may reflect the 2023 quadrennial update and differ.
The self-sufficiency-reserve dollar figure ($16,912) used above the $8,400 minimum threshold is a secondary-source estimate, not confirmed against a primary HHS/ODJFS publication.
Does not reproduce the full JFS 07767 worksheet (e.g. cash medical support under §3119.024 is not itemized separately).