Ohio Teacher Divorce: 4 STRS Pension Tips You Need to Know

If you are a teacher going through a divorce in Ohio, this one is for you.

Teachers hold a special place in my heart. Early in my career, I was a teacher. I earned my Master's in Education and have made quite a few teacher friends over the years. My children have been blessed with wonderful teachers who genuinely care about their students. And in my work as a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst, I have sat across the table from so many educators navigating one of the hardest seasons of their lives.

Here is what I see consistently: teachers going through divorce often do not have a complete picture of their finances, and their retirement benefits in particular. Many do not realize they have options when it comes to their STRS pension. That lack of information can cost them dearly.

You do not have to go through this uninformed. Here are four divorce tips every Ohio teacher needs to know.

1. Get Your STRS Pension Valued Before You Negotiate Anything

Ohio public school teachers receive retirement benefits through the State Teachers Retirement System (STRS Ohio). Your pension is likely one of the largest assets in your marriage. That means how it is handled in your divorce matters enormously.

One of the most common mistakes I see? Teachers assuming the number on their STRS statement represents the value of their pension. It does not. That figure reflects your cash contributions to the fund. The actual present value of your pension is a completely different number, and it is almost always higher.

There are several ways to value a pension, and the method used can significantly affect your settlement. Getting a proper pension valuation done by a financial expert is not an optional step. It is the foundation of every smart negotiation.

If you are dividing other assets in your divorce, you may be able to offset your pension with those assets and keep your pension intact. But you cannot make that decision wisely without knowing what your pension is actually worth.

Read more: How to Keep Your Pension in a Divorce

Read more: Valuing a Pension for Divorce

Bottom line: Do not negotiate around your STRS pension until you have a valuation in hand.

2. Understand How the Social Security Fairness Act Changes Your Picture

This section needed a full update. The rules changed in January 2025, and they changed significantly.

For years, Ohio teachers contributing to STRS did not contribute to Social Security. That meant a teacher who also had some Social Security-covered work history would see those benefits reduced or wiped out entirely under two provisions called the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO).

That is no longer the case.

The Social Security Fairness Act was signed into law on January 5, 2025. It eliminated both the WEP and the GPO, which had previously reduced or eliminated Social Security benefits for more than 2.8 million people receiving a pension based on work not covered by Social Security, including many teachers, firefighters, and police officers. This is the largest Social Security legislative change in decades.

What does this mean for your divorce?

It means the old framework for evaluating Social Security in relation to your STRS pension may no longer apply. If you or your spouse has any Social Security-eligible work history, the benefit picture has changed. A teacher who was previously assumed to receive zero Social Security may now be entitled to a meaningful benefit. That changes the math on equitable division.

This makes the financial analysis more complex, not less. Do not assume that advice you received or read before January 2025 still applies to your situation. You need a current assessment from a financial professional who understands both STRS and the updated Social Security rules.

Bottom line: The rules changed. Get a current analysis before you settle.

3. Have Your DOPO Drafted Before You Go to Court

If you decide to divide your STRS pension as part of your divorce settlement, you will need a Division of Property Order (DOPO). This is the legal document that instructs STRS how to divide your pension according to the terms of your separation agreement.

Note: a DOPO is specific to Ohio public pensions like STRS. It is not the same as a QDRO, which is used for private-sector retirement accounts like 401(k)s. These documents are not interchangeable, and using the wrong one causes serious delays.

Even in a dissolution, which is an uncontested divorce in Ohio, you will make a court appearance. I strongly encourage my clients to have their DOPO fully drafted and reviewed before that court date. That way, the judge can sign off on it while you are there.

If you leave the courthouse without your DOPO handled, you are adding unnecessary risk. There are deadlines, administrative steps, and potential complications that can arise when this is left unfinished. Get it done before you go in.

Bottom line: Walk into court with your DOPO ready to be signed.

4. Build the Right Team Around You

Here is the thing about divorce. You only get one chance to get it right.

Do you do your own dental work? Probably not. Do you fix your own car? Maybe, but not for major repairs. Teachers, you spend your days educating and supporting others. Let someone take care of you for a change.

Going through divorce while trying to cut corners on professional support is one of the most expensive mistakes I see. A pension valuation that does not get done. A DOPO that gets handled incorrectly. Social Security benefits that are not factored in properly under the new rules. These are not small oversights. They have real, long-term financial consequences.

Your team should include a CDFA (Certified Divorce Financial Analyst) who understands public pensions, a skilled family law attorney, and potentially a pension valuation expert. These professionals are not a luxury. They are an investment in your financial future.

Bottom line: Surround yourself with experts. You deserve that support.

Frequently Asked Questions: Ohio Teacher Divorce and STRS Pensions

Can my STRS pension be divided in an Ohio divorce? Yes. Any portion of your STRS pension earned during the marriage is considered marital property in Ohio and is subject to equitable division.

What is a DOPO in an Ohio divorce? A Division of Property Order (DOPO) is the court order that tells STRS how to divide your pension per the terms of your separation agreement. It must be signed by a judge. It is different from a QDRO, which applies to private-sector retirement plans.

Does the Social Security Fairness Act affect Ohio teachers going through divorce? Yes. The law signed in January 2025 eliminated the Windfall Elimination Provision and Government Pension Offset. Teachers with Social Security-eligible work history may now receive benefits they were previously denied or had significantly reduced. This changes how Social Security should be factored into a divorce settlement.

Should I get my STRS pension valued in a divorce? Absolutely. The value of your STRS pension is not the number on your statement. A professional pension valuation is essential to making informed decisions about whether to divide the pension or offset it with other assets.

What is the difference between a QDRO and a DOPO? A QDRO (Qualified Domestic Relations Order) is used to divide private-sector retirement accounts like 401(k)s. For Ohio public pensions like STRS, the correct document is a DOPO. They are not interchangeable.

What does equitable division mean in an Ohio divorce? Equitable division means the marital assets are divided fairly, though not necessarily 50/50. Ohio courts look at a range of factors to determine what is fair given the full financial picture of both spouses.

Navigating divorce is hard enough without trying to figure out public pension law and Social Security rule changes on your own.

If you are an Ohio teacher going through a divorce and you want to understand your financial options, I am here to help. Schedule a call with my team and let us walk through your situation together. You deserve to walk out of this with clarity and confidence in your financial future.

Leah Hadley is a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA®), Accredited Financial Counselor (AFC®), and Master Analyst in Financial Forensics (MAFF™) with over 20 years of experience in financial services. She is the bestselling author of Intentional Money: The Modern Woman's Guide to Building Wealth, Purpose & Peace and the founder of Intentional Divorce Solutions.