How is child support calculated in Arkansas?

Arkansas switched to the Income Shares Model in 2022, under the Family Support Chart system: both parents' gross income is combined, and each parent's proportional responsibility is based on their percentage of the total, factoring in the number of children, health insurance, childcare, and extraordinary medical costs.

What income range does the chart cover?

Combined incomes up to $30,000 per month, accommodating families with one to six children.

How do I request a modification in Arkansas?

A change in either parent's gross income of at least 20% or $100 per month is a material change sufficient to petition the court for modification. An inconsistency between the existing award and what the Family Support Chart would now produce also constitutes a material change sufficient to petition for modification.

Can support orders be modified without going to court?

In some cases, yes: the Arkansas Office of Child Support Enforcement can administratively modify orders it established when both parents agree on the changed circumstances, avoiding a full court process.

How long does child support run in Arkansas?

Generally until the child turns 18, or 19 if still in high school, with the Office of Child Support Enforcement holding broad power to collect if a parent falls behind.

Arkansas, United States

Arkansas Child Support: A Parent's Guide

How child support works in Arkansas, in plain English: the Family Support Chart income shares model, modification, and enforcement.

Legal sources reviewed: August 10, 2026

On this page

In short: Arkansas moved to the Income Shares Model in 2022, using the Family Support Chart for combined incomes up to $30,000/month. A 20% or $100/month income change, or a mismatch between the existing order and a fresh chart calculation, supports a modification, and the Office of Child Support Enforcement can sometimes modify orders administratively when both parents agree.

This is an educational overview written for parents, not lawyers. It isn't legal advice. For anything beyond general understanding, talk to a licensed Arkansas family law attorney.

What Arkansas generally provides

Arkansas switched to the Income Shares Model in 2022, calculated under the Family Support Chart system: both parents' gross income is combined, and each parent's proportional responsibility is set by their percentage of the total combined income.

Important terminology

Family Support Chart: Arkansas's guideline table under Supreme Court Administrative Order No. 10, covering combined incomes up to $30,000/month.
20% or $100/month rule: the income-change threshold that constitutes a material change sufficient to petition for modification.
Administrative modification: a streamlined path available when both parents agree on the changed circumstances, handled by the Office of Child Support Enforcement without a full court process.

How the calculation works

Combining gross income across the chart

Both parents' gross income is combined and matched against the Family Support Chart, which covers combined incomes up to $30,000/month and accommodates families with one to six children. The calculation also factors in the number of children, health insurance costs, childcare expenses, and extraordinary medical costs.

Requesting or defending a modification

Arkansas sets a concrete threshold: a change in either parent's gross income of at least 20% or $100 per month constitutes a material change sufficient to petition the court for modification. Separately, an inconsistency between the existing support award and what the current Family Support Chart would produce, after appropriate deductions, also constitutes a material change sufficient to petition. Where both parents agree on the changed circumstances, the Arkansas Office of Child Support Enforcement can sometimes modify an order it established administratively, without a full court proceeding. See the child support calculator and guideline finder for jurisdiction-specific calculation sources and guidance.

How enforcement works

Support orders generally run until the child turns 18, or 19 if still in high school. The Arkansas Office of Child Support Enforcement holds broad power to collect once a parent falls behind, including the standard tools used across most states: income withholding, tax refund interception, and related collection mechanisms once a case is in the enforcement system.

Common questions

Does a small income change qualify for modification? Not automatically, Arkansas's threshold is specific: at least a 20% change or a $100/month difference, smaller fluctuations generally don't meet the bar on their own.

Can my co-parent and I just agree to a new amount without going to court? In some circumstances, yes, if the Office of Child Support Enforcement established the original order and both parents agree on the changed circumstances, an administrative modification may be available, avoiding a full court filing.

What if my co-parent isn't paying? Contact the Arkansas Office of Child Support Enforcement, which has broad authority to pursue collection once a parent falls behind.

Practical considerations

Because Arkansas's 2022 shift to income shares changed the underlying calculation method from its prior approach, confirm any older estimate or order reflects the current Family Support Chart rather than the pre-2022 formula, especially if it's been a few years since your order was last reviewed. For the custody rules that intersect with these calculations, see the Arkansas custody guide.

Official Arkansas resources

Ark. Code § 9-14-107 (Child Support Guidelines; Modification)

FAQ

Questions, answered

This information is provided for educational purposes only and is not legal advice. Family law varies by individual circumstances and may change over time. Consult a qualified attorney or appropriate official resource for advice about your situation.