How the Arkansas child support calculator works
This Arkansas child support calculator follows Administrative Order No. 10 of the Arkansas Supreme Court as amended in 2022 Ark. 185, which applies to support orders entered after October 6, 2022.[1]
- Gross income for each parent, broadly defined: wages, overtime, commissions, self-employment income, benefits, rental income and more. A month is 4.334 weeks.
- Child support gross income: subtract current court-ordered support paid for other children.
- Basic obligation: look up combined income and the number of children in the Family Support Chart.
- Payor’s share: the basic obligation times the payor’s percentage of combined income.
- Add-ons: the children’s health insurance premium, work-related child care and extraordinary medical costs, prorated by income; the payor is credited for what they pay.
- Rounding: the presumed order is rounded down to the whole dollar.[1]
The Family Support Chart
The chart runs from $1,050 to $30,000 of combined monthly gross income in $50 rows for one to six children; incomes up to $1,050 share the first row of $125.[1]
| Combined gross income | 1 child | 2 children | 3 children | 4 children |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $2,000 | $323 | $474 | $573 | $640 |
| $3,000 | $469 | $688 | $832 | $929 |
| $4,000 | $612 | $899 | $1,086 | $1,213 |
| $6,000 | $815 | $1,178 | $1,414 | $1,579 |
| $8,000 | $975 | $1,395 | $1,668 | $1,863 |
| $10,000 | $1,074 | $1,501 | $1,802 | $2,013 |
| $15,000 | $1,391 | $1,914 | $2,302 | $2,572 |
Administrative Order No. 10 does not say how to read an income between two $50 rows; this calculator uses the row at or below the income. Above $30,000 the top row applies and the court may add more.
The official sample calculation
The order’s Forms Addendum works one case: payor $2,000 and payee $1,000 a month, one child, a $100 premium paid by the payor and $200 of child care paid by the payee. The chart amount at $3,000 is $469; the payor’s two-thirds share is $312.67, plus two-thirds of the $300 add-ons ($200), minus the $100 premium the payor pays, gives $412.67, rounded down to $412.[1] This calculator reproduces that result exactly.
Self-support reserve and the $125 minimum
The chart builds in a self-support reserve of $900 a month. If the payor earns less than $900, the presumptive order is $125 a month; if the payor’s own income falls in the chart’s shaded area, support is computed from the payor’s income alone and the add-ons are not included.[1] The shaded area ends at $1,150 for one child and $1,800 for six children.
Parenting time in Arkansas
The chart assumes the payor has fewer than 141 overnights a year. When each parent has 141 or more overnights, the court may adjust support but there is no formula; when time is approximately equal, the order is generally the difference between the two parents’ shares.[1] See how other states handle this in 50/50 custody child support.
Official Arkansas resources
The Arkansas courts publish the guidelines and a calculator, and the Office of Child Support Enforcement applies the Supreme Court’s guidelines.[2][3]
- Arkansas Child Support Guidelines and calculator
- Arkansas Office of Child Support Enforcement
- Administrative Order No. 10 (2022 Ark. 185)
Neighboring Texas uses only the payor’s income (Texas child support calculator), while Utah splits add-ons equally (Utah child support calculator). Neighboring Louisiana and Oklahoma use income shares schedules too. All states are on the child support calculator page.
An estimate, not an order. The court decides the amount. Not legal advice; see our legal disclaimer.
Frequently asked questions
How is child support calculated in Arkansas?
Both parents’ gross incomes are combined, the chart gives the basic obligation for that income and number of children, and the payor owes their percentage share plus a share of insurance and child care.
What is the minimum child support in Arkansas?
$125 a month when the payor’s gross income is under $900, unless the court finds a reason to deviate, such as incarceration or disability.
Does joint custody change child support in Arkansas?
With 141 or more overnights each, the court may adjust support; with roughly equal time, support is generally the difference between the two parents’ shares.
Is the Arkansas chart based on gross income?
Yes. Arkansas uses gross income, minus court-ordered support paid for other children.