This calculator provides an *estimate* of spousal support in Ohio based on the statutory guidelines. Please note that this is a tool for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Actual support orders are determined by a judge based on a variety of factors.
Understanding Ohio Spousal Support Guidelines
In Ohio, spousal support (formerly known as alimony) is financial support paid from one spouse to the other following a divorce or dissolution. The purpose of spousal support is to help a spouse who may be financially disadvantaged by the divorce achieve a more equitable financial standing. Ohio law provides guidelines to assist courts in determining the amount and duration of spousal support, though judges retain discretion to deviate from these guidelines in certain circumstances.
Ohio's Spousal Support Formula (Gratuitous Approach)
Ohio has specific statutory guidelines for calculating temporary and post-divorce spousal support. The guideline formula primarily considers the gross incomes of both parties and the length of the marriage. The following is a common method used to estimate guideline spousal support:
1. Gross Income Determination:
First, calculate the gross monthly income for both the payor (the spouse paying support) and the payee (the spouse receiving support). Gross income typically includes wages, salaries, bonuses, commissions, tips, overtime, self-employment income, disability benefits, and other forms of income.
2. Calculating Target Spousal Support Amount:
The guideline calculation for the amount of support is generally as follows:
Calculate 30% of the Payor's gross monthly income.
Calculate 25% of the Payee's gross monthly income.
Subtract the payee's calculated amount (from step 2) from the payor's calculated amount (from step 1).
Important Limitation: The resulting spousal support amount should not exceed 40% of the payor's gross monthly income.
3. Adjusting for Child Support and Healthcare Costs:
If the payor is also obligated to pay child support and/or contribute to child healthcare costs, these amounts are typically deducted from the payor's gross income before the spousal support calculation, or directly from the calculated spousal support amount. A common approach involves reducing the calculated spousal support by the amount of child support paid, and potentially factoring in healthcare costs for children paid by the payor.
This calculator simplifies by allowing direct input for monthly child support paid and monthly healthcare costs paid by the payor for children. These are subtracted from the payor's income for the purpose of the calculation.
4. Determining Duration of Spousal Support:
The statutory guideline for the duration of spousal support is typically calculated as a percentage of the length of the marriage, as follows:
Marriages of 3 years or less: Support for up to 15% of the marriage duration.
Marriages of 3 to 10 years: Support for up to 25% of the marriage duration.
Marriages of 10 to 17 years: Support for up to 30% of the marriage duration.
Marriages of 17 to 20 years: Support for up to 35% of the marriage duration.
Marriages of 20+ years: Support for up to 50% of the marriage duration.
The "duration of marriage" is generally measured from the date of marriage to the date of the divorce decree or dissolution.
The calculator will apply these standard durations unless a specific number of years is entered into the "Desired Duration of Support" field.
Factors a Judge May Consider (Deviations from Guidelines)
While the guidelines provide a starting point, Ohio Revised Code Section 3105.18 grants judges broad discretion. A court may deviate from the guidelines if it finds deviation is necessary to achieve an equitable result. Judges consider factors such as:
The income, earning capacity, and age of each spouse.
The physical and emotional condition of each spouse.
The education, skills, and employability of each spouse.
The relative needs of each spouse.
The retirement of each spouse.
The duration of the marriage.
The contribution of each spouse to the marriage (including homemaking and childcare).
The assets and liabilities of each spouse.
The standard of living established during the marriage.
The costs of health insurance.
Any marital misconduct that incurred during the marriage (though this is less frequently a primary factor in guideline states).
Disclaimer: This calculator is an estimation tool based on common interpretations of Ohio spousal support guidelines. It does not account for all potential legal nuances, deviations, or individual case circumstances. For precise legal advice and accurate determination of spousal support in your specific situation, consult with a qualified Ohio family law attorney.
function calculateSpousalSupport() {
var marriageLengthYears = parseFloat(document.getElementById("marriageLengthYears").value);
var payorGrossMonthlyIncome = parseFloat(document.getElementById("payorGrossMonthlyIncome").value);
var payeeGrossMonthlyIncome = parseFloat(document.getElementById("payeeGrossMonthlyIncome").value);
var childSupportObligation = parseFloat(document.getElementById("childSupportObligation").value);
var healthcareCosts = parseFloat(document.getElementById("healthcareCosts").value);
var durationOfSupportYearsInput = document.getElementById("durationOfSupportYears").value;
var resultDiv = document.getElementById("result");
resultDiv.innerHTML = ""; // Clear previous results
// — Input Validation —
if (isNaN(marriageLengthYears) || marriageLengthYears < 0 ||
isNaN(payorGrossMonthlyIncome) || payorGrossMonthlyIncome < 0 ||
isNaN(payeeGrossMonthlyIncome) || payeeGrossMonthlyIncome < 0 ||
isNaN(childSupportObligation) || childSupportObligation < 0 ||
isNaN(healthcareCosts) || healthcareCosts < 0) {
resultDiv.innerHTML = "Please enter valid positive numbers for all fields.";
return;
}
// — Calculations —
// Adjust payor's income by deducting child support and healthcare costs
var adjustedPayorIncome = payorGrossMonthlyIncome – childSupportObligation – healthcareCosts;
if (adjustedPayorIncome < 0) {
adjustedPayorIncome = 0; // Income cannot be negative after deductions
}
// Calculate target spousal support amount based on adjusted incomes
var targetSupport = (adjustedPayorIncome * 0.30) – (payeeGrossMonthlyIncome * 0.25);
// Ensure target support is not negative
if (targetSupport < 0) {
targetSupport = 0;
}
// Apply the 40% of payor's gross income cap
var fortyPercentOfPayorIncome = payorGrossMonthlyIncome * 0.40;
var calculatedSupportAmount = Math.min(targetSupport, fortyPercentOfPayorIncome);
// Ensure the final calculated amount is not negative
if (calculatedSupportAmount < 0) {
calculatedSupportAmount = 0;
}
// — Determine Duration —
var guidelineDuration = 0;
if (marriageLengthYears <= 3) {
guidelineDuration = marriageLengthYears * 0.15;
} else if (marriageLengthYears <= 10) {
guidelineDuration = marriageLengthYears * 0.25;
} else if (marriageLengthYears <= 17) {
guidelineDuration = marriageLengthYears * 0.30;
} else if (marriageLengthYears 20
guidelineDuration = marriageLengthYears * 0.50;
}
var finalDuration = guidelineDuration;
var durationNote = "";
if (durationOfSupportYearsInput !== "") {
var customDuration = parseFloat(durationOfSupportYearsInput);
if (!isNaN(customDuration) && customDuration >= 0) {
finalDuration = customDuration;
durationNote = ` (User specified duration: ${finalDuration.toFixed(1)} years)`;
} else {
durationNote = " (Invalid duration entered; using guideline)";
}
} else {
durationNote = ` (Guideline duration: Up to ${guidelineDuration.toFixed(1)} years)`;
}
// — Display Result —
if (calculatedSupportAmount === 0) {
resultDiv.innerHTML = "Based on the guideline formula, no spousal support appears to be indicated.";
} else {
resultDiv.innerHTML = `
Estimated Monthly Spousal Support: $${calculatedSupportAmount.toFixed(2)}
${durationNote}
`;
}
}