Arkansas Child Support Calculator

Arkansas uses the income shares model under Administrative Order No. 10 to calculate child support. Both parents' gross monthly incomes are combined, and the Family Support Chart determines the basic obligation based on that combined income and the number of children. Each parent pays their proportional share — for example, a parent earning 67% of combined income pays 67% of the obligation.

Arkansas child support calculations use gross income — income before taxes, health insurance, retirement contributions, or other deductions. Under Administrative Order No. 10, both parents must disclose gross income, and the court may impute full-time income if either parent is voluntarily underemployed. Both parents are required to provide proof of income when requested by certified mail, though no more than once per year.

Arkansas courts may adjust child support when the noncustodial parent has at least 141 overnights per year, which represents roughly 40% of parenting time. Under Administrative Order No. 10, the court considers the income disparity between parents when deciding whether to adjust, giving more weight to disparities of less than 20%. Arkansas enacted a presumption of approximately equal time in 2021, which can further influence support calculations.

Arkansas allows child support modification when there is a material change in circumstances. Under state law, a change of 20% or $100 in either parent's income qualifies as a material change sufficient to petition for modification. Additionally, any inconsistency between an existing child support award and the amount produced by the current Family Support Chart under Administrative Order No. 10 constitutes grounds for modification.

Arkansas child support includes both the basic obligation from the Family Support Chart and additional child-rearing expenses. Under Administrative Order No. 10, health insurance premiums for the child, extraordinary medical expenses, and work-related childcare costs are added to the base amount and split proportionally between parents based on each parent's share of combined gross income.

Arkansas applies a self-support reserve when the payor parent earns less than $900 per month in gross income, ensuring that parent can meet basic subsistence needs based on federal poverty guidelines adjusted for Arkansas's cost of living. The Family Support Chart covers combined gross incomes up to $30,000 per month. For combined incomes exceeding $30,000, the court uses discretion to set an appropriate amount above the chart maximum.

Under Arkansas Code § 9-14-237, child support automatically terminates when the child turns 18. If the child is still attending high school at age 18, the obligation continues until high school graduation or the end of the school year after the child turns 19, whichever comes first. Child support also ends upon emancipation, marriage of the child, or adoption by another parent.

Arkansas enforces child support through multiple mechanisms including wage garnishment, tax refund interception, and driver's license suspension after three months of non-payment. Parents owing $2,500 or more may have passports revoked. Past-due support accrues interest at 10% per year, and non-payment exceeding $10,000 can result in class C felony charges. The court may also hold a non-paying parent in contempt, which can include fines and jail time.