Arkansas Child Support Calculator
Estimate Arkansas child support for 2026 using the Income Shares guideline model under Ark. Sup. Ct. Admin. Order No. 10. Enter both parents' incomes and the parenting-time split to see what you may owe or receive.
Arkansas follows the Income Shares model under Administrative Order No. 10 of the Arkansas Supreme Court. The court combines both parents' monthly gross incomes, looks up the basic support obligation on the state's guideline schedule for that income level and number of children, then prorates the obligation between the parents according to each parent's percentage share of the combined income.
Arkansas does not use a fixed overnight credit formula. Under Administrative Order No. 10, the basic schedule amount is set first, and parenting time enters only as a possible deviation factor. A judge can adjust the number for extraordinary parenting time or for a split custody arrangement under Section II of the order, but it is not automatic. You generally have to show the court why the standard guideline figure would be unfair given how the children's time is actually divided.
The cost of the children's health insurance premium is added on top of the basic support obligation in Arkansas. After the combined obligation is found on the guideline schedule, the children's premium is folded in and then prorated between the parents by each parent's percentage share of combined gross income. The parent who actually pays the premium gets credit for it. This add-on is part of the controlling Administrative Order No. 10 calculation, not a side agreement.
Work-related child care, such as daycare needed so a parent can hold a job, is treated as an add-on to the basic obligation in Arkansas. Like the health insurance premium, the qualifying child care cost is prorated between the parents according to each parent's share of the combined monthly gross income. Only reasonable, work-related care typically counts. Keep records of what you actually pay, because the court allocates the real cost rather than an estimate.
Arkansas treats the Administrative Order No. 10 figure as a rebuttable presumption of the correct amount. A judge may deviate up or down when applying the guideline would be unjust or inappropriate, considering factors such as extraordinary parenting time, split custody, or the children's special needs. The parent asking for a different number carries the burden of showing why the presumptive amount is wrong, and the court must put its reasons for any deviation on the record.
Frequently asked questions
How is child support calculated in Arkansas?
Arkansas uses the Income Shares model set out in Arkansas Supreme Court Administrative Order No. 10. The court adds together both parents' monthly gross incomes, looks up the basic support obligation on the state guideline schedule for that combined income and the number of children, then splits that obligation between the parents by each parent's percentage share of the combined income. The parent without primary custody generally pays their share to the other parent. Add-ons for the children's health insurance and work-related child care are then layered on and prorated the same way. The calculator on this page gives an estimate only; the official worksheet and a licensed attorney control your real number.
Is there an official Arkansas child support worksheet I should use?
Yes. The controlling form in Arkansas is the worksheet that accompanies Administrative Order No. 10, published by the Arkansas Supreme Court at arcourts.gov. That worksheet is what the judge and the Office of Child Support Enforcement actually use to set the guideline amount, so it governs over any rough figure you get from an online tool. It walks through combining gross incomes, finding the basic obligation on the schedule, prorating by income share, and adding insurance and child care. Treat the estimate on this page as a starting point and complete the official Order No. 10 worksheet, ideally with help from an attorney, before you rely on a number in court.
What income counts when Arkansas calculates support?
Arkansas bases support on gross income, not take-home pay. Under Administrative Order No. 10, gross income comes from nearly any source, including wages, salary, bonuses, commissions, self-employment earnings, rental income, retirement, disability, workers' compensation, unemployment benefits, and capital gains. For a self-employed parent, the court starts with gross receipts and subtracts reasonable, ordinary, and necessary business expenses to reach the income figure used in the formula. Because the state combines both parents' gross incomes before splitting the obligation, accurate income documentation from both sides matters. The on-page calculator only estimates; the official worksheet and the court control how your income is counted.
How are bonuses, overtime, and self-employment income handled in Arkansas?
Because Arkansas counts gross income from essentially every source under Administrative Order No. 10, bonuses, commissions, and overtime are generally part of the income used to set support, not money you get to keep aside. For irregular earnings, courts often average them over a representative period so the order reflects realistic ongoing income. A self-employed parent's income is figured from gross business receipts minus reasonable, ordinary, and necessary business expenses, which prevents hiding income behind inflated write-offs. Keep tax returns, pay records, and profit-and-loss statements. The calculator here is an estimate, and the official Order No. 10 worksheet plus a licensed attorney control the final result.
Does 50/50 or shared parenting change child support in Arkansas?
Not automatically. Arkansas does not apply a fixed overnight-credit formula, so an equal time split does not by itself drop support to zero. The Administrative Order No. 10 schedule produces a presumptive amount first, and extraordinary parenting time or a split custody arrangement is treated as a possible deviation under Section II of the order. A judge can adjust the number when shared time makes the standard figure unfair, but the parent asking for the change has to show why. The court must also state its reasons on the record. This page only estimates; complete the official worksheet and consult an attorney for a shared-parenting case.
How can I change or enforce an Arkansas child support order?
Either parent can ask the court to modify support, or request an administrative review through the Arkansas Office of Child Support Enforcement, when a new guideline calculation produces at least a 20 percent or 100 dollar per month difference from the current order. That gap is the standard trigger for a change of circumstances. For enforcement, OCSE has strong tools, including immediate income withholding, federal and state tax refund offset, license suspension, liens, passport denial, credit reporting, and contempt referrals. If the other parent lives out of state, interstate rules let Arkansas coordinate enforcement across state lines. This page is an estimate, not legal advice.
When does child support end in Arkansas?
In Arkansas, support generally continues until the child turns 18 or graduates from high school, whichever happens later, but not past age 19 if the child is still in school. If a child has a disability that began before reaching majority, support for that adult child can continue. Support does not simply stop on its own for every child the day the youngest turns 18 if an order covers more than one child, so you usually need a court order to adjust or terminate the obligation. The Office of Child Support Enforcement can help with the process. Use this page only as an estimate and confirm timing with an attorney.