How Arkansas Collects Unpaid Child Support: Wage Garnishment, License Suspension and Passport Denial
If you don’t pay child support in Arkansas, each installment becomes a final judgment with 10% interest. It can be collected by income withholding, benefit and tax intercepts and contempt, a license can be suspended after three months’ arrears, and cases above $10,000 can be referred for prosecution.
What happens if you don’t pay child support in Arkansas?
Each accrued installment is a final judgment (Ark. Code 9-14-234), interest of ten percent a year runs, and the collection tools include income withholding, intercepts, contempt, license suspension and, above a threshold, a referral for criminal prosecution.
Can Arkansas garnish wages and intercept benefits for unpaid child support?
Yes. Enforcement through income withholding, intercept of unemployment benefits or workers’ compensation benefits, income tax intercept, additional payments ordered on the arrearage, contempt proceedings or any other means of collection is available until the arrearage or judgment is satisfied, even after the duty to pay current support ends (9-14-235(b)). A decree is also subject to a writ of garnishment or execution. Federal law limits how much of disposable earnings can be garnished for support: 50% if the person supports another spouse or child and 60% if not, rising to 55% and 65% for support more than 12 weeks overdue (15 U.S.C. 1673(b)).
| If the person | Limit | If support is more than 12 weeks overdue |
|---|---|---|
| Supporting a spouse or another child | 50% | 55% |
| Not supporting a spouse or another child | 60% | 65% |
Can you lose a driver’s or professional license for unpaid child support in Arkansas?
Yes. Unless the obligor executes an installment agreement or makes other necessary and proper arrangements, the Office of Child Support Enforcement notifies the department or licensing entity to suspend the license or permanent license plate when the obligor is delinquent on a court-ordered payment or an adjudicated arrearage in an amount equal to three months’ obligation or more, or is the subject of an outstanding failure-to-appear warrant, body attachment or bench warrant in a child support proceeding. The office must notify the obligor that the request will be made sixty days later unless a hearing is requested in writing within thirty days; the suspension is lifted if the obligor enters an installment agreement, and the obligor can appeal to circuit court within thirty days of the suspension (9-14-239).
Can unpaid child support lead to jail in Arkansas?
A court can order an obligor to be incarcerated if the obligor, not being incapacitated, willfully refuses to pay past-due support, to engage in work activities or to seek work as ordered (9-14-233(e)), and the court may release the obligor temporarily to work. The Office of Child Support Enforcement must refer to the prosecuting attorney, for prosecution under Ark. Code 5-26-401, cases it has handled for at least twelve consecutive months in which more than $10,000 in support is owed and regular payments are not being received (9-14-241).
Can unpaid child support affect a passport?
If a state agency certifies that a person owes child support arrearages of more than $2,500, federal law requires the Secretary of State to refuse to issue a passport and allows revoking, restricting or limiting one already issued (42 U.S.C. 652(k)). The Arkansas arrears calculator warns when the unpaid principal passes that figure.
What work requirements can the court impose?
In Title IV-D cases where the custodial parent or children receive public benefits, the court shall order the obligated parent to pay the overdue amount under a court-approved plan and, if the parent is not incapacitated, may order participation in work activities or job-search records (9-14-233(d)).
What should you do if you owe?
Contact the Office of Child Support Enforcement about an installment agreement before suspension, add up the balance in the Arkansas child support arrears calculator and, if your circumstances changed, ask to modify the order because only later installments can change.
Frequently asked questions
What happens if you don’t pay child support in Arkansas?
Each accrued installment becomes a final judgment with 10% interest, and it can be collected by income withholding, benefit and tax intercepts, contempt, license suspension and, above $10,000, prosecution referral.
When can an Arkansas license be suspended for unpaid child support?
When the obligor is delinquent three months' obligation or more, or is subject to an outstanding child-support warrant, after notice and unless an installment agreement is made.
How much of my wages can be garnished for child support in Arkansas?
Federal law limits it to 50% or 60% of disposable earnings, and 55% or 65% for support more than 12 weeks overdue.
Can an Arkansas parent go to jail for unpaid child support?
A court can order incarceration if a parent who is not incapacitated willfully refuses to pay past-due support or to work as ordered.
When can the passport of an Arkansas parent who owes child support be denied?
When a state agency certifies arrears over $2,500 under federal law.
Official sources
- Ark. Code 9-14-233: interest and attorney’s fees on unpaid support
- Ark. Code 9-14-234: support decrees as final judgments
- Ark. Code 9-14-235: continued payment of arrearages
- Ark. Code 9-14-236: recovering arrearages
- Ark. Code 9-14-239: suspension of license for failure to pay child support
- Ark. Code 9-14-241: referrals for criminal prosecution
- 15 U.S.C. 1673: restriction on garnishment
- 42 U.S.C. 652(k): denial of passports
A local family law attorney can review your situation — many offer a free consultation.
This is general information, not legal advice. It is based on the cited Arkansas statutes, rules and court opinions, and every case turns on its own facts. Confirm how the law applies to your situation with a licensed Arkansas attorney.