Arkansas Child Support Calculator

At what age does child support end in AR?

Child support in Arkansas ends when a child reaches age 18 or graduates from high school, whichever occurs later, but cannot extend beyond the child's 19th birthday if they are still in high school. This is established under Ark. Code Ann. § 9-14-237, after which the legal duty to support the child terminates unless otherwise agreed by the parents.

How is child support calculated if one parent is unemployed in AR?

If a parent is unemployed or underemployed, an Arkansas court will typically impute income to them based on their potential earning capacity. Under Administrative Order No. 10, this is often calculated based on a 40-hour work week at the current state or federal minimum wage, or based on the parent's recent employment history and skills.

How do I modify a child support order in AR?

To modify a child support order in Arkansas, you must show a material change in circumstances, which is legally presumed if a change in the payor's income would result in a 20% or more change in the current child support amount. This standard for modification is defined in Ark. Code Ann. § 9-14-107(c).

Does AR child support cover college expenses?

No, Arkansas law does not require a parent to pay child support for college or other post-secondary educational expenses after a child reaches the age of majority. Parents may, however, voluntarily agree to contribute to college costs and make that agreement part of a legally binding court order.

How does AR handle health insurance and childcare costs?

Health insurance premiums and necessary work-related childcare costs are added to the basic child support obligation and are prorated between the parents based on their proportional shares of their combined income. As outlined in Administrative Order No. 10, these are considered mandatory add-on expenses in the child support calculation.