How does alimony work in Ohio?

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Ohio spousal support is governed by   Ohio Revised Code § 3105.18   and is among the most discretionary alimony regimes in the U.S.    1. No Formula   Ohio explicitly   rejects a statewide guideline  . Each spousal support award is determined case-by-case under the 14 factors in § 3105.18(C)(1).    2. The 14 Statutory Factors   1. Income of each party from all sources 2. Relative earning abilities 3. Ages and physical, mental, and emotional condition 4. Retirement benefits 5. Duration of the marriage 6. Extent to which it would be inappropriate for a custodial parent to seek employment outside the home 7. Standard of living established during the marriage 8. Relative extent of education 9. Relative assets and liabilities (including court-ordered payments) 10. Contributions to the other's education/training/earning ability 11. Time and expense necessary to acquire education/training 12. Tax consequences 13. Lost income production capacity caused by marital responsibilities 14. Any other factor the court considers relevant and equitable    3. Two Components: Amount and Duration   The court determines both the   amount   and   duration  . There is no statutory duration cap, but Ohio courts often apply an informal   "one year of support per three years of marriage"   rule of thumb — though this is not binding.    4. Marriage Duration as Critical Factor   -   Short-term   (under 5 years): support rarely awarded -   Mid-length   (5-20 years): rehabilitative support common -   Long-term   (20+ years): longer-duration support more likely; in some cases indefinite    5. Modification — Critical Procedural Trap   Under   § 3105.18(E)  , post-decree spousal support is   modifiable ONLY if the divorce decree expressly reserves jurisdiction   to modify. If the decree is silent, the award is   not modifiable   — even on a major change of circumstances. This is one of Ohio's most distinctive (and most-litigated) features.    6. Termination   -   Death of either party  ,   remarriage of recipient  , or   cohabitation   typically terminate support — but only if the decree so provides. - Best practice: the decree should specify all termination events.    7. Temporary Spousal Support   During pending divorce proceedings, courts may order temporary spousal support under   Civ.R. 75(N)  .    8. Tax Treatment   Per the federal TCJA, awards entered after January 1, 2019 are not deductible by payor and not taxable to recipient.  This is legal information, not legal advice.