Establishment of a Support Order

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get a child support order established?

Application for Child Support Services

Contact your local CSEA and request an Application for Services or print from the link above and complete the form.  The completed application can be mailed or uploaded on the Ohio Child Support Customer Service Web Portal to your local office.  Once the application is returned to the Agency, it will be reviewed within ten (10) days to determine if a case will be opened. You will be notified by mail if the application has been accepted or denied.

What happens at an administrative support establishment hearing?

At an administrative support establishment hearing, the hearing officer listens to testimony and collects documentation for the support calculation to determine the amount of child support and cash medical support that the non-residential parent (obligor) will be ordered to pay. The hearing officer will also determine who will be ordered to provide health insurance coverage for the child(ren) (one party, both parties, or neither party). Once the administrative child support order is issued, both parties have fourteen (14) days to file an objection and stay with the court. After these fourteen (14) days have passed, the order will be loaded onto SETS and a wage garnishment will go out to the employer. If an objection is filed, the order will be loaded onto the system. If a stay is ordered by the court, the order will not be loaded until the court issues an order stating the order is to be loaded.

What are child support guidelines?

Ohio Child Support Guidelines Calculator

• In order to establish consistency in child support orders, the federal government requires states to use a child support guideline to calculate the support obligations of the parents. Ohio uses the Income Shares Model, which is a formula based on the premise that the child should be entitled to the same standard of living that the child would have enjoyed had the parents remained together. You can review Ohio’s child support calculator at the link above.
• Ohio’s guideline uses gross income figures from both parents, and calculates the amount of support that would be necessary based upon the parents’ combined income. The combined support amount is then allocated between the parents based upon their relative contributions to the income. For example, if one parent contributes 60% of the income and the other parent contributes 40% of the income, then the parent who contributes 60% of the income will also be responsible for providing 60% of the combined support amount for the child;
• After adjustments are made for other expenses (day care costs, private health insurance costs, other minor children, etc.), the parent designated as the non-residential parent will be responsible for paying his/her guideline support amount to the residential parent or caretaker.

How is the health insurance carrier picked?

After all of the documentation has been gathered, the hearing officer will determine which party is to carry private health insurance; one parent, both parents, or neither parent. In accordance with division (B) of section 3119.30 of the Ohio Revised Code, the obligee is presumed to be the appropriate parent to provide health insurance coverage for the child(ren) subject to the child support order, unless rebutted. For more information regarding this, please see Ohio Administrative Code 5101:12-47-02 (A-D).

If I’m married, do I have to get a Divorce or Dissolution before I can apply for child support services?

No, if either of the parents are no longer residing in the home, you may apply for child support services.

How long does it take the CSEA to process a court order once it is received from the court?

Typically, the CSEA is able to load the order within 2 business days after the order is received from the court.

Am I able to appear for my hearing by telephone?

Yes Administrative establishment hearings are held telephonically but you MUST provide the CSEA with the telephone number where you can be reached at the time scheduled for the hearing to begin and you MUST submit all documentation for the hearing prior to the hearing date.

Are child support recipients required to show how child support money is used?

While the financial responsibility of both parties is included in the guidelines calculation, child support recipients are not required to file financial reports or receipts to document the use of child support.

Who can apply to obtain a child support order?

Anyone who has legal custody of a child that resides in Medina County can apply. An unmarried mother who gives birth has legal custody of her child born in Ohio. If the father or third party (guardian, family member, foster care, agency, etc.) has a court order granting him/her legal custody of a child, he/she can complete a IV-D application.

When can support be established?

Child support agencies can establish a support order for parents/legal guardians once paternity has been determined and the child remains under the age of 18 or has not emancipated.

Can I establish a child support order if the other parent lives outside of Ohio?

Yes, we can help you establish a child support order even if a parent does not reside in Ohio.

Can a child support order still be issued when the non-custodial parent is in jail or prison?

Yes, a child support order can be issued if the non-custodial parent is incarcerated.

Can the child support enforcement agency (CSEA) help me establish a spousal support order?

No, state law does not authorize the CSEA to establish a spousal support order. You will need a private attorney because only the court may issue a spousal support order. However, the CSEA may be responsible for enforcing spousal support orders, when they are included in child support orders and when they are spousal support-only orders.

Should I bring my child(ren) to my support hearing?

No, we actually request that you don’t bring any children to the child support hearing.

Can I bring my significant other with me?

No, only the parties to the case and their respective counsel will be allowed in the hearing room.

Will the issues of visitation or custody be discussed at the administrative hearing?

No, please remember, the CSEA Hearing Officer will not assist you on issues concerning companionship or living arrangements of a child. Visitation and custody are handled through court orders only.

Do I need an Attorney for the Administrative Hearing?

An attorney is not required, however you may bring one if you wish.

I don’t agree with what’s in my Divorce/Dissolution Order

Any Divorce or Dissolution action, including but not limited to child support, medical support, custody, visitation, property settlements, must be handled/filed in court.

Can a caretaker receive child support for a child they have Power of Attorney for?

No. Agency policy does not allow us to establish support without legal custody.

Can a caretaker receive support for a child they have legal guardianship for?

Yes, they may apply for support. The agency will need to review your guardianship paperwork to determine if a child support can be established.

What happens if my child is removed from my home or placed in Foster Care?

The agency is required to establish a case against both parents payable to Jobs and Family Services or the current custodian. The agency will need to review the custody order issued by the court to determine who the proper payee will be.

Can you Establish Spousal Support/Alimony in addition to Child Support?

No, only the court can establish Spousal Support/Alimony.  The CSEA cannot establish or modify Spousal Support.