Arkansas Child Support Guidelines

Thanks to a revision of Arkansas law, the state’s courts now base child support payments on the combined incomes of both parents. Before that, the noncustodial parent was almost always the only one contributing support payments to the custodial parent for childcare costs. Under the new guidelines, parents both contribute to child-rearing expenses.

The state’s child support guidelines follow a simple percentage chart. The court totals the gross monthly income of both parents and prorates it by the percentage of time each parent spends with the child. Basic child-support payments include additional child care expenses such as health insurance and school costs.

There is a rebuttable presumption that this figure is the appropriate amount. Parents who disagree with a child support order may present evidence of additional medical expenses or alternate timesharing agreements that justify deviating from the Arkansas child support guidelines.

Calculation of Child Support in Arkansas

To determine the total child support obligation, the court considers all income available to both parents. The statute contains a broad definition of income and may include:

• Wages and earned income
• Distributions from profit sharing, dividends, and pensions
• Royalties, tips, and lottery winnings
• Business perks such as mileage, housing, and meals

Income may include imputed income if a judge believes a parent is intentionally underemployed. However, gross income does not include means-tested public support such as TANF, SSI, or other court-ordered support payments.

How the Child Support Payment Calculation Process Works

Arkansas child support laws are fairly straightforward and operate around the Arkansas child support calculator. The court calculates the gross income of both parents before determining each parent’s share of the gross income based on their percentage of the combined income.

For instance, if their combined monthly gross income was $20,000, and Parent A contributed $12,000 and Parent B contributed $8000, A’s percentage would be 60% and B’s percentage would be 40%.

The court then looks at the Arkansas child support chart to determine the basic child support figure. For $20,000 with one child, the base support payment is $1639 per month. The court adds additional child-rearing expenses, such as health insurance premiums, out-of-pocket medical expenses, and childcare expenses. This figure becomes the presumptive child support obligation.

Each parent’s support obligation is calculated by multiplying the support amount by their percentage. In our example, Parent A would pay 60% of $1639 = $983.40, and Parent B would pay 40% of $1639 = $655.60.

In situations where there is an unequal number of overnights, the court has discretion to adjust the payor’s obligation. If the difference between the parents’ incomes is greater than 20%, the court may give more weight to the lower-earning parent.

Calculating Child Support for More Than One Child

The family support chart gives the monthly amount of child support for incomes up to $30,000 per month and a number of children from one to six. For larger incomes, judges can base the support amount on a flat percentage of the parental income as written in the statute.

For low-income households, the chart sets a minimum child support amount of $125 per month.

Imputed Income

If a parent is intentionally remaining unemployed or refusing to work in a higher-paying job, the court may impute income to that parent. The order will reflect that imputed income. Incarceration or involuntary hospitalization is not considered “intentional unemployment” for purposes of child support.

Note: State laws are subject to change through the passage of new legislation, court rulings (including federal decisions), ballot initiatives, and other means. FindLaw strives to provide the most current information available. You should consult an attorney or conduct your own legal research to verify Arkansas law(s) before making any legal decisions.

Additional Resources

• Guide to Getting Child Support
• What Does Child Support Cover?
• Enforcement and Collection of Back Child Support

Issues With Child Support? Get Legal Advice From an Arkansas Family Law Attorney

Payor and payee parents need legal advice when figuring out the right amount for child support payments. When you’re dealing with child support or custody matters, consider contacting an experienced Arkansas family law attorney for any concerns or questions..