Modification

Either parent or guardian can ask for a change in the order.  Your child support and medical support order may be reviewed every 36 months from the date the order was established or the date of the last review.  Some orders can be reviewed sooner if certain circumstances are met.
When Administrative Adjustment Reviews are approved involving Caretakers, both  the Non-Custodial Mother and Non-Custodial Father's order will be reviewed due to the requirement of a family calculation guideline worksheet pursuant to Sections ORC 3119.02 , ORC 3119.021(A) and ORC 3119.07(C) of the Ohio Revised Code. 
If you are interested in requesting a review, please complete the following form: 
Request for an Administrative Review of the Child Support Order

​When and why should I ask for a modification?

A modification may be requested every 36 months from the time the previous order was filed . The State Office of Child Support will send notification via mail that your case qualifies for the 36 month review. You may also request a modification prior to the 36 month time frame when the following criteria applies:
If a request for a review is made prior to the 36 month time frame and the CSEA does not receive sufficient evidence supporting the request, the CSEA may deny the request.

• The existing order established a minimum or a reduced amount of support based on the Child Support Guidelines due to the unemployment or underemployment of either party and this party is no longer unemployed or underemployed.  The requesting party must provide the CSEA relevant evidence supporting an allegation of the change in the employment status.
  
• Either party is unemployed or laid off, the unemployment or lay off is beyond the party's control, and has continued uninterrupted for thirty consecutive days (this does not include seasonal employment). The party requesting the administrative review must provide the CSEA relevant evidence of the unemployment or layoff. 
  
• You or the other party are unemployed due to a plant closing or mass layoff as defined in the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN), 29 U.S.C. 2101 et seq.  The administrative review request may only be made after the worker's last day of employment. The worker must provide the CSEA a copy of the notice of the plant closing or mass layoff provided pursuant to the WARN Act.
  
• Either party is permanently disabled reducing his or her earning ability.  The requestor must provide to the CSEA verification of receipt of benefits administered by the Social Security Administration due to the disability and/or a physician's complete diagnosis and permanent disability determination. 
  
• Either party is institutionalized or incarcerated and cannot pay support for the duration of the child's minority, and no income or assets are available to the party which could be levied or attached for support.  The requestor must provide evidence of the institution or incarceration and the inability to pay support during the child's minority.
  
• Either party is institutionalized or incarcerated for more than 180 days. The requestor must provide evidence of the incarceration.
  
• Either party have experienced a thirty percent decrease, which is beyond the party's control, or a thirty percent increase in gross income or income-producing assets for a period of at least six months and which can reasonably be expected to continue for an extended period of time.  The party requesting the administrative review must provide to the CSEA relevant evidence supporting an allegation of a change in status.
  
• The child support order is not in compliance with the Ohio Child Support Guidelines due to the termination of the support obligation for a child of the existing support order.
  
• I have children by the same parent and two or more administrative child support orders and I want to combine the orders into a single administrative child support order.
  
• I want to access available or improved health care coverage that is available for the child. The requesting party must provide the CSEA relevant evidence supporting the allegation.
  
• Either party has experienced an increase or decrease in the cost of ordered health care coverage or child care for the child which is expected to result in a change of more than ten percent of the child support obligation based on the current Child Support Guidelines calculation.  The requesting party must provide the CSEA relevant evidence supporting an allegation of an increase or decrease in the cost of health care or child care.  If the request is based on a change in the cost of private health insurance, the requesting party must provide the CSEA evidence regarding the total actual out of pocket cost of the health insurance premium. 
  
• The health care coverage currently being provided in accordance with the child support order is no longer reasonable in cost and/or accessible.  The requesting party must provide the CSEA relevant evidence supporting an allegation that the health care coverage is no longer reasonable in cost and/or accessible.
  
• I am the obligor and I assert that my annual gross income is below 150% of the federal poverty level and I should not be ordered to pay cash medial support, issued prior to March 28, 2019 (the federal poverty guidelines can be found at http://www.aspe.hhs.gov/poverty or by contacting the CSEA).  The obligor must provide the CSEA relevant evidence supporting an allegation that his or her annual gross income is below 150% of the federal poverty guideline.
  
• I am the obligor and a member of the uniformed services who has been called to active service for a period more than thirty (30) days. I have attached a military power of attorney to permit a designated person to act on my behalf in the administrative review, if applicable. 
  
• A temporary adjustment order pursuant to Ohio Administrative Code rules 5101:12-60-05.2 was issued, the obligor's term of active military service has ended, and the obligor has provided the CSEA written documentation sufficient to establish that the obligor's employer has violated the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act, 38 U.S.C 4301 to 4333.
  
  

​If a request for a review is made prior to the 36 month time frame and the CSEA does not receive sufficient evidence supporting the request, the CSEA may deny the request.

How does the CSEA's modification process handle a child support deviation?

The CSEA must apply an existing deviation to court-ordered support so long as the specific monetary amount or percentage value of the deviation can be clearly determined from the language used in the existing support order.

The CSEA is not able to inquire as to whether the basis of the deviation remains; it will simply apply the existing deviation, if appropriate, when modifying the order.  If the CSEA cannot determine a specified monetary amount or percentage value of the deviation, the existing deviation will not be preserved. 

If during the modification process, one, or both, of the parties seeks to alter or eliminate a specific (as explained above) and existing deviation, a court hearing objection must be requested.

How soon will I know if my request has been approved?

​The CSEA has 15 days from the date that we receive the request to respond. The CSEA will send notification of the date of the scheduled desk review or a denial notice if the case does not meet the above listed criteria and it has not been 36 months since the last modification. Each party will be given 45 days to submit the necessary documentation to complete the review. Upon completion the caseworker will send both parties the Administrative Recommendation. 

Do I need to be present for the Administrative Review?

​The Administrative Review is a desk review and attendance is not permitted.

Do I need to send original documents?

​Please send copies of all requested documents. The CSEA scans/images all documents and destroys all original documents

What if I do not agree with the Administrative Recommendation?

​Each party has a right to object to the Administrative Recommendation and must submit their objection in writing within 14 days after receiving the recommendation. Your case will be scheduled for a hearing.

What should I bring to the Administrative Hearing?

​Each party will be given an opportunity to testify to each item on the Ohio Guidelines Worksheet. Each party should bring all documentation they submitted to the caseworker for the desk review and any new, relevant evidence. The Administrative Hearing Officer will listen to all testimony and re-review all of the documentation before making a decision. An Administrative Hearing Decision will be sent to both parties

What if I do not agree with the Administrative Hearing Decision?

​Upon receipt of the Administrative Hearing Decision if you do not agree you may submit an objection directly with the Court within 14 days.  The Child Support Office does not schedule the Court Objection Hearing.  The objecting party must file on their own or through their legal counsel directly with the Court. The Child Support office cannot offer advice.  For legal advice you should contact an attorney.

Upon being notified of a request for a court hearing, the CSEA shall submit the administrative adjustment hearing record to the court.  The CSEA’s only requirement is to submit the record to the court.  The CSEA does not represent any party at the court hearing. The CSEA’s legal representative shall serve primarily in an administrative function rather than as a legal advocate.  If a legal challenge occurs at the court hearing and the CSEA is requested to appear, the CSEA shall present the facts of the original decision to the court and explain the CSEA’s original decision.

How do I know when the Modification is complete?

​The Modification is complete when the final order has been filed with the appropriate court.  

Child Support Calculator

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Disclaimer:
Knowledge of the financial circumstances of both parties as well as an understanding of Ohio family law and Ohio and federal tax law is necessary to complete the worksheet with complete accuracy. A court, attorney, or child support enforcement agency may have a different interpretation of the specific enterable data for this worksheet, as there can be a degree of subjectivity. If you have questions about child support or the Ohio child support guidelines, you should consider contacting an attorney.