A Short Introduction to the Ohio Alimony Calculator
What is an Ohio alimony calculator?
Alimony calculators are used by attorneys to estimate the amount of money that a judge will order be paid in alimony. They rely on strict statewide guidelines to model a mathematical equation on. However, Ohio lacks strict guidelines, making alimony calculators for Ohio difficult or impossible to find.
But there is good news. The estimations of Ohio alimony calculators can be approximated with a little simple research into the state’s laws.
What is a requested Ohio alimony calculator?
Though it is impossible to guess how much a judge will order, a simple formula can show how much an Ohio alimony calculator estimates the requested alimony amount will be. Just follow along:
1. Estimate the joint married standard of living by adding the total costs for the couple for the year. Only count time spent together, not living separately, and ignore any costs associated with minor children or other dependents.
2. Divide that number in half to find the individual married standard of living.
3. Now compare that number to the income of the lower-income spouse. If it is less than the individual married standard of living, then the difference will likely be similar to the amount of annual alimony that will be requested by attorneys before reaching court.
4. If you want to see the monthly alimony payment, just divide by 12.
What do Ohio alimony calculators consider?
A truly accurate alimony calculator for Ohio will take into account all of the factors that Ohio law stipulates a judge should base an alimony order on. This law is Ohio Statutory Code 3105.18, and you can read it here.
To understand how these different factors affect your alimony decision, ask yourself the following questions. The more you answer “No,” the more you should adjust your Ohio alimony calculator to give yourself a larger estimate.
1. Did the marriage five years of less in duration?
2. Do both spouses have similar incomes?
3. Does the spouse earning less income have a similar earning potential (based on educational levels and experience) as the spouse earning more?
4. Are both spouses equally fit and able for work?
5. Are retirement benefits equal for both partners, that is they either exist in similar amounts for both or they do not exist at all?
6. Is the spouse with the higher income saddled with other court-order payments such as child support payments?
7. Is it appropriate for both spouses to seek full employment despite any guardianship duties they might have?
8. Is the standard of living established during the marriage still possible to be maintained by both spouses living separately with their individually earned incomes?
9. Did neither spouse ever have to leave the workforce because of domestic or marital responsibilities?
10. Does neither spouse stand to benefit from a reduced income tax standpoint from alimony payments?
11. Is no additional education required for one spouse to become employable?
12. Did neither spouse contribute to the other’s earning, potentially through assistance in gaining education?
