Ohio Alimony & Spousal Support (2026)
Unlike child support, Ohio has no fixed formula for how much alimony (spousal support) costs or how long it lasts. A judge decides both based on a list of factors set out in R.C. § 3105.18. There is no calculator that can honestly give you an exact number here — but the factors below are what actually drives the decision.
What determines alimony in Ohio
Under R.C. § 3105.18 (Ohio Revised Code § 3105.18 (Awarding spousal support)), a court considers:
- The income of the parties, from all sources, including income derived from property divided, disbursed, or distributed between the spouses
- The relative earning abilities of the parties
- The ages and the physical, mental, and emotional conditions of the parties
- The retirement benefits of the parties
- The duration of the marriage
- The extent to which it would be inappropriate for a party, because that party will be custodian of a minor child, to seek employment outside the home
- The standard of living of the parties established during the marriage
- The relative extent of education of the parties
- The relative assets and liabilities of the parties, including but not limited to any court-ordered payments by the parties
- The contribution of each party to the education, training, or earning ability of the other party, including contributions to the acquisition of a professional degree
- The time and expense necessary for the spouse seeking spousal support to acquire education, training, or job experience so the spouse can obtain appropriate employment
- The tax consequences, for each party, of an award of spousal support
- The lost income production capacity of either party that resulted from that party's marital responsibilities
- Any other factor that the court expressly finds to be relevant and equitable
Good to know
- Ohio law does not set a formula, percentage, or worksheet for the amount of spousal support (what Ohio courts call "spousal support" rather than "alimony") — the court weighs the statutory factors above and has broad discretion.
- Ohio law also has no fixed durational formula for spousal support in the statute itself; duration is set by the court as part of the same discretionary analysis, though many county domestic relations courts use unofficial local guidelines as a starting point for negotiations (these are not law).
Also need a child support estimate?
Alimony and child support are calculated completely separately in Ohio. If you also have children, use our free Ohio child support calculator — that one does compute a real number, based on the official guideline formula.
Frequently asked questions
Is there an alimony formula in Ohio?
No. Ohio Revised Code § 3105.18 does not set a formula, percentage, or calculator for the amount or duration of spousal support. The court weighs a list of statutory factors — such as income, earning ability, age and health, and the standard of living during the marriage — and uses its discretion to decide whether support is appropriate and, if so, how much and for how long.
What factors determine alimony in Ohio?
Under R.C. § 3105.18, courts consider factors including each spouse's income and relative earning ability, their ages and health, the duration of the marriage, the standard of living during the marriage, each spouse's education and contribution to the other's earning capacity, the tax consequences of an award, and any other factor the court finds relevant and equitable.
Source: Ohio Revised Code § 3105.18 (Awarding spousal support) · Last verified 2026-07-22
Disclaimer: This page explains the general legal framework for alimony in Ohio and is for informational purposes only — it is not legal advice and does not predict the outcome of any specific case. Laws change; always verify with the official source above or a family law attorney licensed in Ohio before making decisions.