Adams v. Adams

2025 Ohio 5574
Ohio Court of Appeals·Decided December 15, 2025·No. 14-24-41·Published

Opinion

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO THIRD APPELLATE DISTRICT

UNION COUNTY

LEAH M. ADAMS, CASE NO. 14-24-41

PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE,

v.

TODD A. ADAMS, OPINION AND JUDGMENT ENTRY

DEFENDANT-APPELLANT

Appeal from Union County Common Pleas Court Domestic Relations Division Trial Court No. 23-DR-0035

Judgment Affirmed

Date of Decision: December 15, 2025

APPEARANCES:

Todd A. Adams, Appellant John R. Willamowski, Jr. for Appellee

ZIMMERMAN, J.

{¶1} Defendant-appellant, Todd A. Adams (“Todd”), appeals the September 25, 2024 judgment entry of the Union County Court of Common Pleas, Domestic Relations Division, granting plaintiff-appellee, Leah M. Adams (“Leah”), a divorce from Todd. On appeal, Todd challenges the trial court’s parenting schedule, calculation of child support, and award of spousal support. For the reasons that follow, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

{¶2} Todd and Leah were married on July 15, 2000, and have two children together. Their oldest child is an adult and their youngest child, J.A., attained the age of majority during the pendency of this appeal (in January 2025). Leah filed a complaint for divorce on February 21, 2023. Todd filed his answer on April 6, 2023.

{¶3} On May 9, 2024, the matter proceeded to a final hearing before a magistrate. At the final hearing, the parties agreed to the distribution of marital property as set forth in the stipulated balance sheet marked as Joint Exhibit I. The parties’ agreement was placed on the record. Specifically, the parties agreed that Leah would retain the assets outlined in her column (including the marital home) and Todd would retain the assets outlined in his column. Since the stipulated balance sheet shows an unequal distribution in favor of Leah, the parties agreed that Leah would make an equalization payment to Todd in the amount of $45,011.33. The parties further agreed that the equalization payment would be due 120 days after

Todd brought the outstanding household expenses related to the marital home current and notified Leah in writing.1 The outstanding household expenses included the monthly mortgage payments, property taxes, and utilities. The parties agreed that Todd would have 30 days to bring these expenses current through May 9, 2024. As to the indebtedness owed on the marital home, the parties agreed that Leah would have 120 days to make payment in full or refinance the debt. The parties further agreed that the 120-day time period would commence after Todd brought the outstanding household expenses current and provided written notice to Leah.

{¶4} After the parties’ agreement was placed on the record, the magistrate noted that the stipulated balance sheet was signed by both Todd and Leah. Thereafter, both Todd and Leah testified that they believed the property distribution as set forth in the stipulated balance sheet to be fair and equitable, and requested that the marital property be divided accordingly.

{¶5} The remaining issues to be heard at the final hearing included parenting time, child support, and spousal support. Both parties testified at the hearing. As to parenting time, Leah requested a flexible parenting schedule since J.A. is 17 years old. Leah testified that J.A. should continue to reside with her in the marital home and spend as much time with Todd as J.A. desires. Leah explained that J.A. would benefit from a flexible parenting schedule because she will be starting her senior

1 On June 2, 2023, the trial court issued a temporary order whereby Todd was ordered to pay “the household expenses (mortgage, taxes, insurance, and HOA fees)” and utilities. (Doc. No. 27).

year of high school and is involved in many activities that take up a lot of her time. Leah testified that J.A. is very mature and can be trusted to make good decisions. In contrast, Todd testified that an alternating weekly parenting schedule would be best for J.A. Todd explained that he rented an apartment approximately two miles from the marital home so that he could have equal parenting time with J.A. At the request of the parties, the magistrate conducted an in camera interview with J.A.

{¶6} As to the parties’ income, Leah testified that she left the job market in 2004 to care for the parties’ first-born child, and remained out of the job market until 2019. Leah further testified that she is currently employed fulltime with Dublin City Schools. Leah works with special-needs children and is paid $1,383 twice a month ($33,192 per year). Leah also works during the summer months and is paid $1,440. Leah’s total annual income is $34,632. Todd testified that he believes Leah is underemployed and should be earning $60,000 a year based on her bachelor’s degree. As to his own employment status, Todd retired in October 2023 at the age of 55. Todd testified that the he did not make the decision to retire based on the possibility of having to pay spousal support to Leah. At the time of his retirement, Todd’s annual salary was $143,157.

{¶7} With respect to spousal support, Leah requested that Todd be ordered to pay $3,000 a month. Leah testified that she came up with this amount after preparing a monthly budget and tracking household expenses over a period of several months. Leah stated that she wanted to retain the marital home to keep

things as normal as possible for J.A. during the remainder of her time in high school. Todd disagreed with Leah’s requested amount of spousal support. Todd testified that $3,000 a month is “a very aggressive number” because he has “no new income.” (May 9, 2024 Tr. at 88). Todd did not have “a number in mind for spousal support” but requested that the magistrate consider “the existing assets that we can each live off of independently.” (Id.).

{¶8} Leah testified that she provides health insurance for J.A. through her employment with Dublin City Schools. Leah requested that Todd be ordered to pay child support pursuant to the guideline amount. Leah further requested that the parties be ordered to pay J.A.’s uncovered medical expenses according to their income share percentages. Todd testified that he pays for all of J.A.’s expenses under the temporary orders. Todd requested that this arrangement continue after the divorce such that payment of child support to Leah would not be needed.

{¶9} On July 3, 2024, the magistrate issued a decision with recommendations. As to parenting time, the magistrate found J.A. to be “a mature, well-balanced, [and] wise child.” (Doc. No. 105). The magistrate determined that “regularly going back and forth, especially overnight, would unfairly disrupt [J.A.’s] schedule and her senior year.” (Id.). The magistrate concluded that Todd’s “proposed plan, and the possibility of [J.A.] going back and forth each week, is not in the best interest of the child, and should be overruled.” (Id.). The magistrate

recommended that the trial court approve and adopt Leah’s flexible parenting schedule.

{¶10} With respect to spousal support, the magistrate recommended that Todd pay spousal support of $3,000 a month ($36,000 a year), commencing on July 1, 2024. The magistrate made this recommendation after considering the factors set forth in R.C. 3105.18(C)(1). Specifically, the magistrate considered the parties’ income and found that Leah experienced “lost income production capacity” because she “did not work out of the home for approximately 16 years.” (Doc. No. 105 at Ex. A). The magistrate rejected Todd’s argument that Leah is underemployed and found “no compelling evidence” that she should be earning $60,000 a year. (Id.). The magistrate considered that Leah is 50 years of age, Todd is 56, both are healthy, and each have a bachelor’s degree. The magistrate found that the parties established a middle-class to upper-middle-class standard of living during the marriage. The magistrate further found that the stipulated balance sheet distributed marital property equally between the parties, with each party receiving approximately $500,000 in retirement accounts.

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