Couples who break up must continue to provide their children with financial help through child support. This court order helps safeguard the children’s wellbeing and will exist until the couple’s youngest child turns 18 years old or graduates from high school.
In this blog, we will discuss two frequently asked questions about Ohio’s child support processes:
What happens if my ex-spouse misses their child support payments?
If your ex-spouse has missed paying their child support in time, you may seek your local child support enforcement agency (CSEA)’s help in enforcing their payments through tax offset.
In this process, the CSEA will intercept your ex-spouse’s federal or state tax refunds to help repay their child support debt. However, there is a distinct criteria for each type of tax offset.
For example, there must be a minimum of $500 in past due support owed to you to be eligible for a federal tax offset or a minimum of $150 in past due support owed to you to be eligible for a state tax offset.
Can I request an increase in my child support costs?
Yes, you can request for a review and adjustment of your child support order through your local CSEA if:
- Your existing order is at least three years old or
- You and your children are experiencing a “significant change” in circumstances
Four common examples of these types of changes are:
- A 30% change in your or your ex-spouse’s salary
- A disability from either you or your ex-spouse
- An active military duty from either you or your ex-spouse
- An increase in your children’s educational needs and/or medical expenses
Aside from your detailed reason for the request, you also need to include supporting documents that can help prove your case, such as your pay stubs or copies of your children’s health insurance coverage.
You and your children will be okay
By understanding your rights and learning about Ohio’s child support processes, you can submit your request with better ease and minimize any potential hurdles along the way.