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Arkansas Child Support

Arkansas Child Support

ARKANSAS CHILD SUPPORT LAWS & REGULATIONS UPDATE 2023

A DECADE OF CHANGE: AN OVERVIEW OF ARKANSAS’S CHILD SUPPORT LAWS AND REGULATIONS TIMELINE (2013-2023)

Arkansas has made significant strides in shaping its child support laws and regulations over the past decade. With a strong commitment to the well-being of children and families, the state has implemented various changes to its legal framework. This article presents a succinct overview of the key updates to Arkansas’s child support laws and regulations from 2013 to 2023.

2013: Comprehensive Guideline Review

   – Thorough review and adjustment of child support guidelines to ensure fairness and adequacy.

2014: Efficient Enforcement Mechanisms

   – Enhancement of enforcement mechanisms to ensure timely and consistent child support payments.

2015: Income Sharing Emphasis

   – Emphasis on income sharing as the basis for determining child support obligations.

2016: Modification Simplification

   – Simplification of the process for modifying child support orders based on changing circumstances.

2017: Newborn Child Support

   – Introduction of guidelines to address child support obligations for newborns.

2018: Medical Care Consideration

   – Consideration of medical care costs when calculating child support obligations.

2019: Noncustodial Parent Involvement

   – Encouragement of noncustodial parent involvement in child support matters.

2020: Digital Payment Options

   – Implementation of digital payment options to provide convenient and secure child support payment methods.

2021: Shared Custody Adjustment

   – Adjustment of child support calculations for cases with shared custody arrangements.

2022: Online Resources Expansion

   – Expansion of online resources to offer comprehensive information and assistance on child support matters.

2023: Continuous Improvement

   – Commitment to ongoing evaluation and improvement of child support policies and procedures.

Arkansas’s dedication to refining its child support laws and regulations underscores its commitment to the well-being of children and the effective functioning of families. The state’s continuous efforts to adapt to changing circumstances ensure that its legal framework remains responsive and supportive of all parties involved.


Arkansas child support falls under the jurisdiction of the Office of Child Support Enforcement which is a part of the Division of Revenue within the Department of Finance and Administration.

PCSE support is free and mandatory for those on public benefits as child support payments are necessary to supplement public benefits received from the state.

All others will pay $25 for OCSE services, including establishing paternity and locating non-custodial parents.

Child support payments are primarily enforced through income withholding but other actions, such as forced deductions from public benefits, seizure of personal property for auction, and suspension of licenses are also actions that Arkansas can take against non-custodial parents that are delinquent on child support payments.

Non-custodial parents that miss six months of payments or owe more than $5,000 will have an arrest warrant issued against them as well as be labeled as a child support evader by the state. Contact an Arkansas lawyer for legal advice and assistance.