Arkansas Child Support Laws: Guidelines and Calculations

Quick Summary: Arkansas Child Support at a Glance

Factor	Details
Calculation Method	Income Shares Model (effective July 1, 2020)
Governing Law	Administrative Order No. 10
Previous Method	Percentage of Obligor Income (before July 2020)
Age of Termination	18 (or 19 if still in high school)
Enforcement Agency	Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE)
Interest on Arrears	10% per year
Self-Support Reserve	$900/month gross income
Minimum Order	$125/month
Official Calculator	Arkansas Child Support Calculator

How Arkansas Switched to the Income Shares Model

Before July 1, 2020, Arkansas calculated child support using the "Percentage of Obligor Income" method. That older approach looked only at the non-custodial parent's earnings, placing the full financial burden on one household.

The Arkansas Supreme Court changed the guidelines through an updated Administrative Order No. 10. The new system uses a limited version of the Income Shares Model, which considers both parents' incomes.

Under this model, courts assume children should receive the same proportion of parental income they would have received if both parents lived together. Both parents contribute based on their share of the combined gross income.

If you have a child support order from before July 2020, the difference between your current order and what the new guidelines would produce may qualify as a "material change of circumstances." That difference alone can be enough to petition for a modification. However, existing orders do not change automatically.

How Child Support Is Calculated in Arkansas

Administrative Order No. 10 lays out a step-by-step process for calculating child support.

Step 1: Determine Gross Income

The court identifies each parent's monthly gross income. Arkansas uses gross income (before taxes and deductions), not net income. Gross income includes:

• Wages, salaries, and tips
• Commissions and bonuses
• Self-employment income
• Workers' compensation and disability benefits
• Pension and retirement benefits
• Social Security benefits
• Unemployment benefits
• Rental income
• Interest and dividends
• Trust income
• Alimony received from another relationship

If a parent is voluntarily unemployed or underemployed, the court may impute income based on what that parent could reasonably earn.

Step 2: Combine Both Incomes

The court adds both parents' gross monthly incomes together to get a combined figure.

Step 3: Look Up the Base Obligation

Using the Family Support Chart, the court finds the base child support obligation for the combined income level and the number of children. The chart covers combined monthly incomes up to $30,000. For incomes above that threshold, the court uses its discretion.

Step 4: Calculate Each Parent's Share

Each parent pays a proportional share of the base obligation. For example, if Parent A earns 60% of the combined income and Parent B earns 40%, Parent A is responsible for 60% of the base obligation.

Step 5: Add Adjustments

Several expenses are added to the base obligation and split proportionally:

• Health insurance premiums paid for the child
• Extraordinary medical expenses exceeding $250 per child per year
• Work-related childcare costs

The official Arkansas Child Support Calculator can help you estimate your obligation. The final amount is always at the court's discretion.

Self-Support Reserve and Minimum Order

If the paying parent's monthly gross income falls below $900, the court applies a self-support reserve to make sure that parent can still meet basic living needs. In these cases, the presumptive minimum child support order is $125 per month. A party can challenge this minimum by presenting evidence to the court.

Parenting Time Adjustment

When the non-custodial parent has at least 141 overnights per year (roughly 40% of the time), the court may adjust the support amount downward. The court gives more weight to income disparities of less than 20% between the parents when deciding whether to apply this credit.

How to Modify Child Support in Arkansas

To change an existing child support order, you must show a material change in circumstances. Arkansas law defines specific triggers.

Automatic Grounds for Modification

Under Ark. Code Ann. \u00a7 9-14-107, a change of 20% or more in either parent's gross income qualifies as a material change sufficient to petition the court for modification.

An inconsistency between an existing order and the amount the current Family Support Chart would produce also counts as a material change.

Other Factors the Court Considers

• Extraordinary travel expenses for court-ordered visitation
• Court-ordered responsibility for a stepchild
• Education expenses for the child
• Changes in custody arrangements
• Changes in the child's medical or educational needs

Grounds for Deviating Below the Minimum

The court may set support below the guidelines if:

• The paying parent is incarcerated
• The parent's only income is SSI (Supplemental Security Income)
• A verified mental or physical disability prevents the parent from working
• Documented inability to earn income exists

Any deviation from the guidelines must be stated in writing with specific justification.

To request a modification, you can contact OCSE or file a motion with the court. Modifications generally apply only to future payments from the date of filing. Past-due amounts cannot be changed retroactively.

Enforcement and Penalties for Non-Payment

Arkansas takes child support enforcement seriously. The Office of Child Support Enforcement and the courts have multiple tools to collect unpaid support.

Administrative Enforcement

• Income withholding: Wages garnished directly from paychecks
• Tax refund interception: State and federal refunds seized
• Bank account garnishment: Funds seized from financial accounts
• Property liens: Placed on vehicles, homes, and other assets
• License suspension: Driver's licenses and professional licenses suspended after 3 or more months of arrears
• Passport denial: Passports denied or revoked when arrears reach $2,500 or more
• Credit reporting: Delinquent support reported to credit bureaus

Contempt of Court

Willful failure to pay child support results in a contempt citation. A judge may order the delinquent parent to pay all past-due support immediately. Failure to comply can lead to fines and jail time. The court may also order the delinquent parent to pay the custodial parent's attorney fees.

Criminal Penalties Under Ark. Code Ann. \u00a7 5-26-401

Arkansas classifies nonsupport as a criminal offense with escalating penalties:

Arrears Amount / Situation	Classification	Potential Penalty
Failure to pay (base offense)	Class A Misdemeanor	Up to 1 year in jail, up to $2,500 fine
$2,500+ in arrears or 4+ months past due	Class D Felony	Up to 6 years in prison
Leaving the state for 30+ days to avoid payment	Class D Felony	Up to 6 years in prison, up to $10,000 fine
$10,000 to $25,000 in arrears	Class C Felony	3 to 10 years in prison
$25,000+ in arrears	Class B Felony	5 to 20 years in prison

A prior conviction for nonsupport also elevates the charge to a Class D felony regardless of the amount owed.

Interest on Arrears and Collection Time Limits

Under Ark. Code Ann. \u00a7 9-14-233, all unpaid child support accrues interest at 10% per year. The judgment holder can request that the court not apply interest, but otherwise it accrues automatically.

Under Ark. Code Ann. \u00a7 9-14-236, the statute of limitations on collecting unadjudicated arrears is five years after the child turns 18. Adjudicated judgments are valid for 10 years and renew each time a payment is made.

No statute of limitations applies if the obligor leaves or stays outside Arkansas to avoid paying support. Arrears never disappear simply because the child reaches adulthood.

When Does Child Support End in Arkansas?

Under Ark. Code Ann. \u00a7 9-14-237, child support terminates automatically by operation of law when:

• The child turns 18 and has graduated from high school
• The child turns 19, regardless of high school status
• The child graduates high school after turning 18 but before turning 19
• If the child drops out of high school, support ends at age 18

Child support also ends if the child:

• Dies
• Becomes legally emancipated
• Marries

Required Notifications

Termination is not automatic from a paperwork standpoint. Within 10 days, the paying parent must send written notice to:

• The custodial parent or physical custodian
• The clerk of court receiving payments
• The employer (if income withholding is active)
• OCSE (if applicable)

The notice must include a copy of the most recent child support order.

Arrears Survive Termination

Even after the support obligation ends, any unpaid balance remains collectible. The custodial parent can continue enforcement actions to collect arrears plus accrued interest.

How a Minor Can Become Emancipated in Arkansas

Emancipation ends a parent's child support obligation early. Under Ark. Code Ann. \u00a7 9-27-362, a minor can become emancipated through three paths.

Marriage

Arkansas allows 17-year-olds to marry with parental consent. Marriage results in automatic emancipation. A five-business-day waiting period applies for marriage licenses issued to minors. No one under 17 may marry in Arkansas.

Military Service

Enlisting in the U.S. military results in emancipation. Parental consent is required for enlistment before age 18.

Court-Ordered Emancipation

A minor may petition the court for a declaration of emancipation. The petitioner must prove all of the following by a preponderance of the evidence:

• The minor is at least 17 years old
• The minor is willing to live apart from parents or guardians
• The minor has an appropriate place to live
• The minor can manage their own financial affairs
• The minor has a legal source of income
• The minor has healthcare coverage or a realistic plan to meet health needs
• The minor agrees to comply with compulsory school attendance laws
• Emancipation is in the minor's best interest

Emancipation petition forms are available through Arkansas Legal Aid.

How to Apply for Child Support Services

The Arkansas Office of Child Support Enforcement provides services including locating absent parents, establishing paternity, establishing and enforcing support orders, and collecting payments.

You can apply by:

• Visiting the OCSE website to apply online
• Calling (501) 371-5349 to request an application
• Visiting one of 26 field offices across the state

For case-related questions, call (501) 682-8708. You can also track your case online through the MyCase portal.