Quick answer: When does child support end in Arkansas? Automatically at the child’s 18th birthday, unless the order specifically extends it. If the child is still attending high school, it runs to graduation, or to the end of the school year after the child reaches 19 if that is earlier. Marriage, emancipation, death or adoption also end it.
This Arkansas child support end date calculator finds the 18th birthday under Ark. Code 9-14-237 and shows the time left, with the high school limit if it applies. The payor must give written notice of the termination within ten days, and the duty to pay current support ending does not erase arrears: check the balance in the Arkansas child support arrears calculator. If the payor has other children to support, the remaining obligation is adjusted using the chart after the notice period.
When does child support end in Arkansas? At a glance
| Rule | What Arkansas says |
|---|---|
| Age 18 | The payor’s duty ends automatically by operation of law when the child reaches 18 unless the child is still attending high school (Ark. Code 9-14-237(a)(1)(A)) |
| High school | Until graduation or the end of the school year after the child reaches 19, whichever is earlier (9-14-237(a)(1)(B)) |
| Other events | Emancipation by a court, marriage or death of the child, marriage of the parents to each other, adoption (9-14-237(a)(1)(C)-(E)) |
| Longer support | A court may provide support past 18 for educational needs of a child whose 18th birthday falls before graduation, and for an individual with a disability affecting independent living (9-12-312(a)(6)) |
| College | We found no Arkansas statute that provides court-ordered college support |
| Notice | The payor gives written notice of termination within ten days, with the most recent order |
| Past-due support | Stays owed and enforceable (9-14-235) |
How does the Arkansas end date work?
- Age 18, high school and the 19th birthday. See the Arkansas child support age limit and whether support stops at 18.
- College and disabled children. See child support for college and disabled children in Arkansas.
- Emancipation and ending the order. See emancipation and whether child support ends automatically in Arkansas.
What does this end date calculator check?
You enter the child’s birth date and the calculator returns the 18th birthday, the usual end of the obligation, and the time left from today. If the child will still be in high school it shows the 19th birthday that bounds the extension. It cannot read your order: if the order specifically extends support, the order controls. To change the amount before it ends, see the Arkansas child support modification calculator.
Frequently asked questions
At what age does child support end in Arkansas?
At 18, automatically by operation of law, unless the child is still attending high school or a court order specifically extends support.
Does Arkansas child support stop at 18 if the child is still in high school?
No. If the child is still attending high school, support runs to graduation or the end of the school year after the child reaches 19, whichever is earlier.
Can an Arkansas court order a parent to pay for college?
We found no Arkansas statute that provides court-ordered college support; the statute provides for a school-conditional extension and for a child with a disability.
Can Arkansas child support continue for a disabled child?
Yes. The court may provide for continuation of support for an individual with a disability that affects the ability to live independently from the custodial parent.
Does Arkansas child support end automatically?
The duty to pay current support terminates automatically by operation of law at 18 or the other statutory events, unless the order extends it, but the payor must give written notice within ten days and arrears stay owed.