High-Income Child Support in Columbus, Ohio: What Happens Above the Guideline Cap?

If you are going through a divorce in Columbus, Ohio or Franklin County, and your combined income exceeds Ohio’s child support guideline maximum, your case is no longer just a worksheet calculation. In high-income divorce cases, child support becomes a strategic, case-by-case determination under Ohio law.

Here is how it works.

Ohio Child Support Above the Maximum Income Level

Ohio’s child support guidelines apply up to a combined income of just over $336,000 per year. When parents earn more than that, courts apply R.C. 3119.04(B). In high-income cases, the court must:

• Set support on a case-by-case basis

• Ensure the amount is at least the guideline maximum

• Consider the needs of the child

• Consider the standard of living the child would have enjoyed if the marriage had continued

Once income exceeds the statutory cap, the calculation is no longer purely mathematical.

What Courts Focus on in High-Income Cases

In Franklin County Domestic Relations Court, judges focus on the child — not the parents. Key considerations often include:

• Educational expenses

• Private school or tutoring

• Extracurricular activities

• Camps, athletics, and enrichment

• Travel and opportunities

• Medical and therapy needs

• College savings

• The family’s historical spending patterns

The central legal principle is maintaining the child’s standard of living consistent with the family’s financial circumstances.

Is Child Support Automatic Above the Cap?

No.

When income exceeds the schedule, courts do not simply multiply upward indefinitely.

Instead, they may:

• Use the guideline maximum as a starting point

• Consider extrapolation as a reference

• Analyze statutory deviation factors under R.C. 3119.23

• Evaluate whether the proposed award reflects the child’s actual needs

High-income child support cases require financial evidence and strategic presentation.

What About Shared Parenting or 50/50 Time?

Even in shared parenting arrangements in Columbus and Franklin County, child support may still be ordered when there is significant income disparity. Ohio child support is based on income shares — not just parenting time. If one parent earns substantially more, courts may order support to ensure the child’s lifestyle remains reasonably consistent across households. At higher income levels, judges have discretion to adjust the amount upward or downward based on the specific facts of the case.

Why High-Income Divorce Cases Require Experienced Counsel

Once income exceeds the statutory guideline cap, child support cases become more nuanced. Proper advocacy may involve:

• Detailed income analysis

• Presentation of financial documentation

• Lifestyle evidence

• Deviation arguments

• Anticipating and responding to “windfall” claims

These cases are often complex and heavily litigated in Franklin County.

The Bottom Line for Columbus Parents

In Ohio high-income divorce cases, child support is about protecting the child’s standard of living — not about rigid formulas. If you are involved in a divorce or custody dispute in Columbus or Franklin County involving significant income disparity, strategic legal guidance is critical. Hoffman Law represents clients throughout Columbus and central Ohio in complex divorce and child support matters.