Arkansas Child Support
Estimate for Arkansas
Arkansas uses the Income Shares model.
Official schedule: Arkansas Supreme Court Administrative Order No. 10 — Family Support Chart (Income Shares; revised 2022, current) (2024)
View calculation breakdown
| Combined parental income | $9,000 |
|---|---|
| Total basic obligation (schedule) | $1,445 |
| Obligor income share | 55.6% |
| Obligor basic obligation | $803 |
| Estimated monthly support | $803 |
How the basic obligation splits between parents
Estimated monthly support by number of children
§ How Arkansas calculates support
Arkansas uses the Income Shares Model under Supreme Court Administrative Order No. 10 (effective July 1, 2020). Both parents' gross incomes are combined and matched to the Family Support Chart; each parent pays a share proportional to income. Health-insurance premiums, work-related childcare, and extraordinary medical costs over $250/child/yr are added. Notable features: a $125/month minimum, a $900/month self-support reserve, a parenting-time adjustment at 141+ overnights, and above-chart percentages (15%/21%/25%...) when combined income exceeds $30,000/month.
Content verified against official sources on 2026-08-09.
✦ How to open or modify a case in Arkansas
- Apply with the Arkansas Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE) or file a petition in circuit court.
- Establish paternity if the parents were not married (voluntary acknowledgment or genetic test).
- Exchange the Affidavit of Financial Means and complete the Child Support Worksheet.
- The court applies Administrative Order No. 10 and enters a support order (deviations need written findings).
- Payments are collected and enforced by OCSE (automatic wage withholding).
- Request a modification on a material change, typically when the new amount differs by 20% / $100, or every 36 months.
◈ Illustrative examples
Scenario: Parent A gross $3,000 (60%), Parent B $2,000 (40%); two children.
Walk-through: Combined $5,000 → Family Support Chart basic obligation ≈ $1,081/month. Parent A's 60% share = $649/month, plus their proportional share of health insurance and childcare.
Takeaway: Arkansas splits the chart amount by income percentage; add-ons are allocated the same way.
Scenario: The payor's gross income is very low, below the $900 self-support reserve.
Walk-through: The court applies at least the $125/month minimum order while protecting the payor's $900 self-support reserve.
Takeaway: Arkansas guarantees a $125/month minimum but preserves a $900 self-support reserve for the payor.
? Frequently asked questions
↗ Official policy & agency links
Sources verified: https://www.arcourts.gov/sites/default/files/In%20Re%20Amendments%20AO%2010.pdf · https://www.dfa.arkansas.gov/child-support · https://legalclarity.org/how-child-support-works-in-arkansas/ · https://legalclarity.org/arkansas-family-support-chart-how-child-support-is-calculated