The court may make a final spousal support order. There is no specific formula in Ohio for calculating temporary support awards. The court must use its discretion, taking into account each spouse's earning capacity and other resources while the divorce is pending.
In Ohio, eligibility for spousal support is determined by various factors, including the length of the marriage, the standard of living during the marriage, each spouse's earning capacity, age, physical and emotional health, and financial and non-financial contributions to the marriage.
Ohio isn't a community property state. Instead, Ohio follows what's known as the "equitable distribution" model for dividing assets and debts during a divorce. However, unlike many other states that use this model, Ohio requires judges to divide a couple's marital property equally, unless that would be unfair.
A general rule in Ohio is that the court will order one year of support for every two to five years of marriage, depending on how long the parties have been married. The longer the marriage, the longer the period of time the payments will continue.
While there are no set guidelines for determining spousal support payments in Ohio, the law requires the courts to assume that both spouses contributed equally to the marriage, whether that contribution was financial or caring for their children and the home itself.
As such, the non-working spouse may be entitled to a share of retirement benefits, investments accrued during the marriage, and even alimony or spousal support.
There is no specific formula in Ohio for calculating temporary support awards. The court must use its discretion, taking into account each spouse's earning capacity and other resources while the divorce is pending. The court should strive to maintain the financial status quo despite title or ownership.
Some of the factors courts will consider when determining the duration, manner, amount and type of payments include: Each spouse's incomes, including any income generated by property. The earning ability of each spouse. How old each spouse is, and how healthy they are (emotionally, mentally and physically)