Ohio § 3121.03

Full text of Ohio Ohio Revised Code § 3121.03, with citation guidance and answers to common questions.

§ 3121.03.

If a court or child support enforcement agency that issued or modified a support order,

or the agency administering the support order, is required by the Revised Code to

issue one or more withholding or deduction notices described in this section or other

orders described in this section, the court or agency shall issue one or more of the

following types of notices or orders, as appropriate, for payment of the support and

also, if required by the Revised Code or the court, to pay any arrearages: (A)(1) If the court or the child support enforcement agency determines that the obligor

is receiving income from a payor, the court or agency shall require the payor to do

all of the following: (a) Withhold from the obligor's income a specified amount for support in satisfaction

of the support order and begin the withholding no later than fourteen business days

following the date the notice is mailed or transmitted to the payor under section 3121.035 , 3123.021 , or 3123.06 of the Revised Code and division (A)(2) of this section or, if the payor is an employer, no later than

the first pay period that occurs after fourteen business days following the date the

notice is mailed or transmitted; (b) Send the amount withheld to the office of child support in the department of job

and family services pursuant to section 3121.43 of the Revised Code immediately but not later than seven business days after the date the obligor is

paid; (c) Continue the withholding at intervals specified in the notice until further notice

from the court or child support enforcement agency. To the extent possible, the amount specified to be withheld shall satisfy the amount

ordered for support in the support order plus any arrearages owed by the obligor under

any prior support order that pertained to the same child or spouse, notwithstanding

any applicable limitations of sections 2329.66 , 2329.70 , 2716.02 , 2716.041 , and 2716.05 of the Revised Code .  However, in no case shall the sum of the amount to be withheld and any fee withheld

by the payor as a charge for its services exceed the maximum amount permitted under

section 303(b) of the “Consumer Credit Protection Act,” 15 U.S.C. 1673(b) . (2) A court or agency that imposes an income withholding requirement shall, within the

applicable time specified in section 3119.80 , 3119.81 , 3121.035 , 3123.021 , or 3123.06 of the Revised Code , send to the obligor's payor by regular mail or via secure federally managed data

transmission interface a notice that contains all of the information applicable to

withholding notices set forth in section 3121.037 of the Revised Code .  The notice is final and is enforceable by the court. (B)(1) If the court or child support enforcement agency determines that the obligor has

funds that are not exempt under the laws of this state or the United States from execution,

attachment, or other legal process and are on deposit in an account in a financial

institution under the jurisdiction of the court that issued the court support order,

or in the case of an administrative child support order, under the jurisdiction of

the common pleas court of the county in which the agency that issued or is administering

the order is located, the court or agency may require any financial institution in

which the obligor's funds are on deposit to do all of the following: (a) Deduct from the obligor's account a specified amount for support in satisfaction

of the support order and begin the deduction no later than fourteen business days

following the date the notice was mailed or transmitted to the financial institution

under section 3121.035 or 3123.06 of the Revised Code and division (B)(2) of this section; (b) Send the amount deducted to the office of child support in the department of job

and family services pursuant to section 3121.43 of the Revised Code immediately but not later than seven business days after the date the latest deduction

was made; (c) Provide the date on which the amount was deducted; (d) Continue the deduction at intervals specified in the notice until further notice

from the court or child support enforcement agency. To the extent possible, the amount to be deducted shall satisfy the amount ordered

for support in the support order plus any arrearages that may be owed by the obligor

under any prior support order that pertained to the same child or spouse, notwithstanding

the limitations of sections 2329.66 , 2329.70 , and 2716.13 of the Revised Code . (2) A court or agency that imposes a deduction requirement shall, within the applicable

period of time specified in section 3119.80 , 3119.81 , 3121.035 , or 3123.06 of the Revised Code , send to the financial institution by regular mail or via secure federally managed

data transmission interface a notice that contains all of the information applicable

to deduction notices set forth in section 3121.037 of the Revised Code .  The notice is final and is enforceable by the court. (C) With respect to any court support order it issues, a court may issue an order requiring

the obligor to enter into a cash bond with the court.  The court shall issue the order as part of the court support order or, if the court

support order has previously been issued, as a separate order.  The cash bond shall be in a sum fixed by the court at not less than five hundred

nor more than ten thousand dollars, conditioned that the obligor will make payment

as previously ordered and will pay any arrearages under any prior court support order

that pertained to the same child or spouse. The order, along with an additional order requiring the obligor to immediately notify

the child support enforcement agency, in writing, if the obligor begins to receive

income from a payor, shall be attached to and served on the obligor at the same time

as service of the court support order or, if the court support order has previously

been issued, as soon as possible after the issuance of the order under this section.  The additional order requiring notice by the obligor shall state all of the following: (1) That when the obligor begins to receive income from a payor the obligor may request

that the court cancel its bond order and instead issue a notice requiring the withholding

of an amount from income for support in accordance with this section; (2) That when the obligor begins to receive income from a payor the court will proceed

to collect on the bond if the court determines that payments due under the court support

order have not been made and that the amount that has not been paid is at least equal

to the support owed for one month under the court support order and will issue a notice

requiring the withholding of an amount from income for support in accordance with

this section.  The notice required of the obligor shall include a description of the nature of

any new employment, the name and business address of any new employer, and any other

information reasonably required by the court. The court shall not order an obligor to post a cash bond under this section unless

the court determines that the obligor has the ability to do so. A child support enforcement agency may not issue a cash bond order.  If a child support enforcement agency is required to issue a withholding or deduction

notice under this section with respect to a court support order but the agency determines

that no withholding or deduction notice would be appropriate, the agency may request

that the court issue a cash bond order under this section, and upon the request, the

court may issue the order. (D)(1) If the obligor under a court support order is unemployed, has no income, and does

not have an account at any financial institution, or on request of a child support

enforcement agency under division (D)(1) or (2) of this section, the court shall issue

an order requiring the obligor, if able to engage in employment, to seek employment

or participate in a work activity to which a recipient of assistance under Title IV-A

of the “Social Security Act,” 49 Stat. 620 (1935), 42 U.S.C.A. 301 , as amended, may be assigned as specified in section 407(d) of the “Social Security

Act,” 42 U.S.C.A. 607(d) , as amended.  The court shall include in the order requirements that the obligor register with

the OhioMeansJobs web site and to notify the child support enforcement agency on obtaining

employment, obtaining any income, or obtaining ownership of any asset with a value

of five hundred dollars or more.  The court may issue the order regardless of whether the obligee to whom the obligor

owes support is a recipient of assistance under Title IV-A of the “Social Security

Act.”  The court shall issue the order as part of a court support order or, if a court support

order has previously been issued, as a separate order.  If a child support enforcement agency is required to issue a withholding or deduction

notice under this section with respect to a court support order but determines that

no withholding or deduction notice would be appropriate, the agency may request that

the court issue a court order under division (D)(1) of this section, and, on the request,

the court may issue the order. (2) If the obligor under an administrative child support order is unemployed, has no

income, and does not have an account at any financial institution, the agency shall

issue an administrative order requiring the obligor, if able to engage in employment,

to seek employment or participate in a work activity to which a recipient of assistance

under Title IV-A of the “Social Security Act,” 49 Stat. 620 (1935), 42 U.S.C.A. 301 , as amended, may be assigned as specified in section 407(d) of the “Social Security

Act,” 42 U.S.C.A. 607(d) , as amended.  The agency shall include in the order requirements that the obligor register with

the OhioMeansJobs web site and to notify the agency on obtaining employment or income,

or ownership of any asset with a value of five hundred dollars or more.  The agency may issue the order regardless of whether the obligee to whom the obligor

owes support is a recipient of assistance under Title IV-A of the “Social Security

Act.”  If an obligor fails to comply with an administrative order issued pursuant to division

(D)(2) of this section, the agency shall submit a request to a court for the court

to issue an order under division (D)(1) of this section.

Frequently Asked Questions About Ohio § 3121.03

What does Ohio Revised Code § 3121.03 cover?

Section 3121.03 is part of the Ohio Revised Code, the codified statutory law of Ohio. It sets out the legal rule or procedure described in the text above. Statutes are amended regularly, so always verify against the official source.

How do I cite Ohio § 3121.03?

A common citation format is "Ohio Revised Code § 3121.03" (Ohio). Legal writing may require the code abbreviation, section number, and year or edition. Match the style required by your court, professor, or publisher.

Is this the official text of Ohio law?

No. This page is for research and education and may not include the most recent amendments. For official current law, check the Ohio official source linked on this page or consult a licensed Ohio attorney.

How does Ohio § 3121.03 apply to my situation?

Statutes are interpreted in context, and application depends on your specific facts. Only a licensed attorney in Ohio can advise on how this section applies to you. Contact your state or local bar association for a referral.

Sources & Verification

Not legal advice. Verify against the official source and consult a licensed attorney in Ohio.