Logan County Alimony Attorney

Serving Families in Bellefontaine, OH

Family law disputes, especially those involving divorce, can be some of the most emotionally wrought and challenging experiences a person may face. The future feels uncertain, and it can be difficult to know where to turn or how to proceed. 

Whether you are getting divorced or seeking to make changes to alimony, you can trust Bahan Law to provide you with reliable and caring family law counsel. With a manageable caseload and attention to detail, we tailor our representation to each client’s unique situation.

Contact Bahan Law today to schedule a free consultation with a Logan County alimony attorney by calling (937) 883-5656.

Understanding Ohio's Alimony Laws

Alimony, also sometimes referred to as “spousal support,” is the money that one spouse pays to the other. Either spouse may be ordered to pay it, but for the judge to order alimony, one of the spouses must ask the judge for alimony and the judge must find that a spouse who has to receive alimony needs the money, and the other spouse has the ability to pay.

The information that follows is a basic overview of alimony law in Ohio, not legal advice. Learn more about your unique situation by calling our firm for a consultation.

How Is Alimony Calculated in Ohio?

Ohio family court judges do not have a specific formula to determine the amount and duration of alimony. Judges instead make alimony decisions based on an examination of several financial and non-financial factors, and no two cases are the same.

Some of the factors judges consider are:

• Income, including stock options
• Relative education levels of each spouse
• Retirement benefits
• The time and expenses necessary to train one spouse properly for a work position
• Contributions made to the other spouse’s education during the marriage
• Age, and physical, mental, and emotional condition of the spouses
• Financial resources of each spouse, in addition to the marital assets
• Marital standard of living
• Duration of the marriage
• Marital obligations and assets
• Tax consequences of being awarded or paying alimony

If you are entitled to alimony, a Logan County spousal support lawyer will help ensure that you are treated fairly and that your rights are protected throughout the divorce process.

Is There a Minimum Time for Alimony in Ohio?

Ohio judges may order either temporary or permanent alimony. Most commonly, judges order temporary alimony to permit the lower-earning spouse to maintain their lifestyle and financial situation while getting back on their feet after a lengthy or permanent marriage. End-period alimony ends promptly upon the occurrence of a specific event.

Courts may order moderate-term or long-term alimony if the marriage lasted a long time, or the couple’s standard of living is disparate. One Ohio court held that spouses over the age of 50 who left the workforce to care for the home and children might be prevented from returning to the workforce with the same earning capacity or opportunities. 

In other words, if one spouse earns an upper-class income and the other spouse never worked, the court may recognize the need for long-term alimony to prevent the low-income spouse from falling below or into poverty.

Can Alimony Be Modified in Ohio?

No Ohio alimony agreement is permanent to any extent. Either spouse can move the court to terminate or modify the alimony agreed upon after a divorce. The motion will be successful if the moving spouse can prove that since the last alimony, circumstances have significantly changed and that change is either unreasonable and was not foreseeable at the time alimony was ordered.

Ohio law allows for modifications of alimony if there is a significant change in circumstances. These changes might include:

• Change in income: If either spouse experiences a substantial increase or decrease in income, this may be grounds for a modification in the amount of alimony awarded.
• Remarriage: If the spouse receiving alimony remarries, the paying spouse may request that the alimony payments be terminated. However, remarriage does not automatically terminate alimony; the court will assess whether the remarriage creates a financial change that justifies a modification.
• Change in health or disability: If one spouse becomes disabled or experiences a significant health change that affects their ability to earn an income, alimony arrangements may need to be modified to reflect the new reality.
• Retirement: When the paying spouse reaches retirement age, they may be entitled to seek a modification of alimony payments based on their new, lower income.

It is important to note that alimony modifications are not automatically granted. The requesting spouse must provide clear and convincing evidence that a significant change in circumstances has occurred. A Logan County alimony lawyer can assist with the legal process to request or oppose an alimony modification.

Connect an Alimony Lawyer From Bahan Law

Our attorneys have several years of experience representing clients in Ohio courts. We meet with each of our clients personally to explain their rights and the options available to them so that they can make the best decisions possible, given the particular circumstances of their case. 

Our Logan County lawyers prepare every case fully to be ready to present it in a court of law and we diligently work on behalf of our clients. Whether through negotiation or contested litigation, we ensure that our clients’ best interests remain well-represented.

Contact our firm today to arrange a consultation with our Bellefontaine alimony attorney. Call now at (937) 883-5656