Spousal support, commonly called alimony in the past, is a payment from one former spouse to the other after divorce. You can ask for spousal support in Ohio if you worry about how to pay for a separate household.
Review the factors that apply to spousal support requests if you live in Ohio and face the end of your marriage.
The spousal support process
After you or your spouse files for divorce, you can ask the court for spousal support. You can request temporary support, which provides financial help during the separation. When the court finalizes your divorce, the judge may create a final spousal support order.
How Ohio calculates support
While some states have a specific spousal support calculation, Ohio does not. Instead, the court will consider these factors in your case:
- How long your marriage lasted
- Whether you or your spouse has a retirement account or pension
- Your age and health status, along with the age and health status of your spouse
- Each person’s income and assets
- Child care arrangements if you have minor children
- Each person’s education and skills
- Whether either of you helped with the other’s education or career training
- How spousal support would impact each person’s taxes
- Whether you or your spouse lost income because of your marital responsibilities
- The marital assets and debts you will each receive in the divorce
Most Ohio spousal support orders end on a specific date. Support will also end if you remarry. In addition, either you or your former spouse can ask the court to modify a spousal support order if circumstances have significantly changed.
