3119.04 Determination of support obligation where combined gross income is less than or greater than amounts covered by schedule. - Ohio Statutes

3119.04 Determination of support obligation where combined gross income is less than or greater than amounts covered by schedule.

(A) If the combined gross income of both parents is less than six thousand six hundred dollars per year, the court or child support enforcement agency shall determine the amount of the obligor’s child support obligation on a case-by-case basis using the schedule as a guideline. The court or agency shall review the obligor’s gross income and living expenses to determine the maximum amount of child support that it reasonably can order without denying the obligor the means for self-support at a minimum subsistence level and shall order a specific amount of child support, unless the obligor proves to the court or agency that the obligor is totally unable to pay child support, and the court or agency determines that it would be unjust or inappropriate to order the payment of child support and enters its determination and supporting findings of fact in the journal.

(B) If the combined gross income of both parents is greater than one hundred fifty thousand dollars per year, the court, with respect to a court child support order, or the child support enforcement agency, with respect to an administrative child support order, shall determine the amount of the obligor’s child support obligation on a case-by-case basis and shall consider the needs and the standard of living of the children who are the subject of the child support order and of the parents. The court or agency shall compute a basic combined child support obligation that is no less than the obligation that would have been computed under the basic child support schedule and applicable worksheet for a combined gross income of one hundred fifty thousand dollars, unless the court or agency determines that it would be unjust or inappropriate and would not be in the best interest of the child, obligor, or obligee to order that amount. If the court or agency makes such a determination, it shall enter in the journal the figure, determination, and findings.

Effective Date: 03-22-2001