OHIO Part 40

The reason for the difference in rules between the divorce itself and alimony is based on the fact that alimony involves money, and an order to pay money can be enforced by a personal judgment. Under these circumstances, the law requires that a court have personal jurisdiction or power over a defendant.

For example, if your ex-spouse is ordered to pay you alimony and he or she refuses to do so, you can file a lawsuit against your ex-spouse and get a judgment against him or her for the amount of past due alimony ("arrearage").

What are "sufficient minimum contacts?" It is impossible to list all of the ways in which a defendant-spouse's contacts with a state will permit a divorce court to order him or her to pay alimony. However, courts usually will find sufficient contacts when: