A Certified Specialist In Family Law
At Barbara J. Howard Co., L.P.A., our firm handles complex cases where one party may require financial support beyond the income generated from employment and the division of assets. We can help you determine spousal support and child support needs, whether that solution is reached inside or outside of court.
Tailoring Your Spousal Support
Support for a former spouse is intended to help close the gap between that person’s earning potential and the standard of living experienced during the marriage. We can help you determine your after-tax needs to give you an enhanced ability to find a level of spousal support that is palatable to both parties.
Our lawyers take a holistic approach to negotiating and structuring spousal support, considering both spouses’ circumstances, including:
- Having not worked or put your career on hold while you raised children
- Complex earning structures, including bonuses and deferred compensation
- Computation of earnings for self-employed individuals
- Further educational or career training needs
- Cost of maintaining your household and obligations
Based on our experience, we will work with you to explain approximate ranges of appropriate amounts and durations of spousal support obligations. Though these vary widely, we consider several factors, including the length of the marriage, the spouses’ ages, each spouse’s budget and each spouse’s earnings or earning capacity.
Child Support
Child support is computed based on a set of guidelines passed by the state Legislature. Ohio’s child support guidelines were updated and became effective in March 2019. The guideline calculations accounts for several factors, including the number of children, the parents’ incomes, the parenting time schedules of each parent, child care costs, health insurance costs and any other children in each parent’s home.
Child And Spousal Support Laws Are Changing
The child support guidelines have been updated after many decades. The update includes many changes in the computation of child support. These changes may result in significant differences for some families.
The tax law regarding spousal support has also changed. Effective Jan. 1, 2019, a new order of spousal support is no longer tax deductible by the spouse who pays or taxable to the spouse who receives — a change that can have a substantial impact. This change in the law does not retroactively impact spousal support orders predating the change in the law.
Together, the changes in the law concerning support point to the need for a seasoned family law practitioner to help you decipher the impact of these changes in the law for your particular situation.
At Barbara J. Howard Co., L.P.A., we make it a priority to ensure that we are up to date on all changes to the law so that we can advise you through your family law matter.
Sophisticated Family Law Services
If you need an attorney for your spousal support or child support matter or if your support orders need an update or review, call our Cincinnati office at 513-421-7300 or write to us using our online form. We are proud to offer families holistic, detail-oriented solutions that will have a positive impact on their future.