How Arkansas Calculates Child Support: The Family Support Chart
Arkansas uses the income shares model. The court adds both parents’ gross monthly income, finds the basic obligation in the Family Support Chart, shares it and the add-on expenses by income, credits the payor for expenses the payor pays, and rounds the result down to the whole dollar.
Step 1: Income available for support (Lines 1–3)
Each parent’s gross monthly income is reduced by court-ordered current support paid for other children and any other permissible deduction. The two figures are added to get the combined income, and each parent’s share of the combined income is computed (Section V.1). Gross income, not net, is used to avoid disputes over deductibility; the Chart already reflects federal and state income taxes and FICA. See what income counts for Arkansas child support.
Step 2: The basic obligation (Lines 4–5)
The Chart gives the basic obligation for the combined income and the number of children. The Chart runs from $1,050 to $30,000 in $50 steps for one to six children. The court’s online calculator uses the row at or below the combined income, so $7,049 uses the $7,000 row. Above $30,000, the highest amount in the Chart is used and the court may add more in its discretion (Section II). Each parent’s share of the basic obligation is the share of income times the Chart amount, to two decimals.
Step 3: Additional child-rearing expenses (Lines 6–10)
Three expenses are added: the child’s health insurance premium (reasonable if dependent coverage costs no more than 5% of the providing parent’s gross income), extraordinary medical expenses such as orthodontia, dental treatment, asthma treatment, physical therapy and counseling, and work-related child care up to the cost of quality care from a licensed provider (Section IV). Each parent pays a share by income.
Step 4: Total obligation, credit and rounding (Lines 11–13)
Each parent’s total obligation is the share of the basic obligation plus the share of the add-ons. The payor then receives a credit for the add-ons he or she pays out of pocket, and the result is rounded down to the nearest whole dollar (Sections V.1 and VI.3). The court’s own sample has the payor earning $2,000 and the payee $1,000 with one child: the Chart amount is $469 and the presumed order is $412.
A worked example
The payor earns $4,200 a month and pays $150 for the children’s insurance; the payee earns $2,800 and pays $400 for child care; there are two children.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Payor / payee gross monthly income | $4,200 / $2,800 |
| Combined income (Line 2) | $7,000 |
| Basic obligation, 2 children (Line 4) | $1,274 |
| Shares of income, payor / payee (Line 3) | 60.00% / 40.00% |
| Shares of the basic obligation (Line 5) | $764.40 / $509.60 |
| Additional expenses: insurance $150 (payor) + child care $400 (payee) (Line 9) | $550 |
| Shares of the expenses (Line 10) | $330.00 / $220.00 |
| Payor's total obligation (Line 11) | $1,094.40 |
| Less credit for insurance the payor pays (Line 12) | −$150.00 |
| Presumed order, rounded down (Line 13) | $944 |
The Arkansas child support calculator reproduces this example, and its arithmetic matches the court’s own online calculator.
What can change the presumption
The result is rebuttable. The court may deviate with a written finding that it is unjust or inappropriate, considering the child’s best interest. For parents who share approximately equal time, see shared custody child support in Arkansas.
Frequently asked questions
How does Arkansas find the basic child support obligation?
From the Family Support Chart, using the parents' combined gross monthly income and the number of children. The Chart covers up to $30,000 a month.
Does Arkansas use gross or net income for child support?
Gross income. The Chart already reflects federal and state income taxes and FICA, which avoids disputes over deductions.
Are health insurance and child care added to Arkansas child support?
Yes. The child's health insurance, extraordinary medical expenses and work-related child care are added and shared by income, and the payor is credited for the expenses he or she pays.
What is the Arkansas worksheet?
The Child Support Worksheet is a 13-line form the court uses to compute the presumed order. The Affidavit of Financial Means and the Worksheet must be exchanged at least three days before a hearing.
Is Arkansas child support rounded up or down?
Down. The child-support obligation is rounded down to the nearest whole dollar.
Official sources
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.