How to Calculate Child Support in Arkansas: A Step-by-Step Guide
Brandon Haubert
Jan 13, 2026
If you are going through a divorce or separation in Arkansas, one of the first questions you likely have is: "How much is this going to cost?" or "How much support will my child receive?"
Calculating child support can feel intimidating. You might hear terms like "gross income," "allowable deductions," and "administrative orders" and feel like you need an accounting degree just to fill out the paperwork.
Here is the good news: Arkansas uses a specific formula called the Income Shares Model. While the math requires attention to detail, the logic behind it is actually quite fair. It is designed to ensure your child gets the same financial support they would have had if you and the other parent were still living under one roof.
This guide will walk you through the calculation process step-by-step so you can understand what to expect.
Key Takeaways
It’s Not Just One Parent’s Income: Arkansas combines both parents' net incomes to determine the total support amount.
Gross Income is Broad: Almost all money coming in—wages, bonuses, VA benefits, self-employment income—counts as income.
Deductions are Limited: You cannot deduct rent or car payments. Deductions are mostly limited to taxes and health insurance for the child.
The Chart is the Baseline: The court uses a standard chart (Administrative Order No. 10) to find the "presumptive" amount, but judges can adjust it for things like childcare costs or extraordinary time-sharing.
Table of Contents
Understanding the "Income Shares" Concept
Step 1: Determine Gross Monthly Income
Step 2: Subtract Allowable Deductions
Step 3: Consult the Chart
Step 4: Prorate the Share
Common Adjustments and Deviations
When You Should Talk to a Lawyer
Understanding the "Income Shares" Concept
Before we do the math, it helps to understand the why. Arkansas moved to the Income Shares Model to make things fairer for children.
In the past, courts often looked only at the non-custodial parent's income. Today, the court looks at the "financial pie" of the entire family.
We calculate the total "pie" (Combined Monthly Net Income of both parents).
We look at a chart to see how much a family of that size usually spends on children.
We slice that obligation up based on how much each parent contributes to the pie.
If you earn 70% of the family income, you are generally responsible for 70% of the child support obligation.
Step 1: Determine Gross Monthly Income
The first step is often where people make mistakes. You need to calculate your Gross Monthly Income. This is the money you make before taxes or 401(k) contributions come out.
What counts as income? Arkansas takes a very broad view here. According to Administrative Order No. 10, income includes:
Wages, salaries, and tips.
Commissions, bonuses, and overtime pay.
Self-employment income (minus reasonable business expenses).
Worker’s compensation and unemployment benefits.
Disability insurance benefits and VA benefits.
Pension and retirement payments.
What if income fluctuates? If you work on commission or your hours vary, the court typically avoids looking at just one single month. Instead, they may average your income over the last year or two to find a realistic monthly figure.
Tip: Honesty is critical here. Hiding income is one of the fastest ways to lose credibility with a judge.
Step 2: Subtract Allowable Deductions
Once you have your gross number, you get to subtract specific expenses to find your Net Monthly Income.
Caution: You cannot deduct your rent, mortgage, car payment, credit card bills, or voluntary retirement contributions. The state assumes everyone has these bills, and the support chart already accounts for them.
What you CAN typically deduct:
Federal and State Income Taxes: The amount you should pay based on your tax bracket (not necessarily just what is withheld).
FICA: Social Security and Medicare taxes.
Health Insurance for the Child: The portion of the premium that covers the child (not you or your spouse).
Court-Ordered Support: Child support you are already paying for a different child under a court order.
Once you subtract these "allowable deductions" from the Gross Income, you have your Net Income for child support purposes.
Step 3: Consult the Chart
Now, you need the "Chart." This is the grid found in Arkansas Administrative Order No. 10.
Combine the Incomes: Add Parent A’s Net Income + Parent B’s Net Income.
Find the Row: Locate that total number in the "Combined Monthly Net Income" column.
Find the Column: Move across to the column for the number of children you have.
The number you land on is the Basic Child Support Obligation. This is the total amount the state estimates your child needs each month.
Step 4: Prorate the Share
This is where we split the bill.
Let’s look at a simple example:
Parent A (Custodial) Net Income: $2,000/month
Parent B (Non-Custodial) Net Income: $3,000/month
Total Combined Income: $5,000/month
If the chart says the basic support obligation for one child at $5,000 income is **$700** (hypothetically):
Calculate Percentages:
Parent A contributes 40% of the income ($2,000 / $5,000).
Parent B contributes 60% of the income ($3,000 / $5,000).
Assign Responsibility:
Parent B is responsible for 60% of the $700 support amount.
$700 x 0.60 = **$420**.
So, $420 would be the base presumption for what Parent B pays Parent A.
Common Adjustments and Deviations
The math above gives you the "presumptive" amount. However, real life is rarely that simple. The final court order might look different due to Add-ons or Deviations.
Add-Ons
The court will often add these costs on top of the basic number:
Health Insurance Premiums: If the paying parent pays the insurance premium directly to their employer, they usually get a credit for that amount.
Work-Related Childcare: Daycare costs are often split between the parents based on their income percentages.
Deviations (Exceptions)
A judge can choose to "deviate" (move away) from the chart number if it would be unfair to follow it strictly. Common reasons include:
Extraordinary Time-Sharing: If the non-custodial parent has the child significantly more than the standard every-other-weekend schedule (e.g., a true 50/50 split), the judge may lower the support payment.
Extraordinary Expenses: Costs for special needs, private school tuition, or long-distance travel for visitation.
Note: Deviations are not automatic. You must ask for them and explain why they are in the child's best interest.
Checklist: Documents You Will Need
If you are preparing to calculate this yourself or file paperwork, gather these documents first:
[ ] 3–4 recent pay stubs.
[ ] Last year’s W-2s and tax returns (state and federal).
[ ] Proof of health insurance costs (ask HR for a breakdown of "employee only" vs. "family" cost).
[ ] Proof of childcare costs (invoices from daycare).
[ ] Copies of any other child support orders you pay.
[ ] The Affidavit of Financial Means (this is the sworn form where you list all this info).
When You Should Talk to a Lawyer
While many parents handle straightforward child support cases themselves using our forms, some situations are risky. You should consider speaking with a private attorney or Arkansas Legal Aid if:
Income is Hidden: The other parent is self-employed and hiding money, or pays personal bills through a business account.
Safety is at Risk: There is a history of domestic violence.
High Income: The combined income exceeds the maximum amount listed on the chart (the "high-income earner" cap).
Complex Custody: You are fighting for custody at the same time as support.
Next Steps
Calculating child support is about following the formula and having your documents organized. If you have a standard W-2 job and a clear custody schedule, you can likely manage this process using self-help resources.
At ArkansasLegalNow, we help you generate the necessary court forms—like the Affidavit of Financial Means and the Child Support Worksheet—so you can walk into court prepared.
Get Organized: Use our document checklist to gather your financial records.
Run the Numbers: Use the steps above to estimate your obligation.
File with Confidence: Create your custom legal documents online.
Get Started with Your Child Support Forms
Sources
Arkansas Judiciary: Administrative Order No. 10 – Child Support Guidelines
Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration: Office of Child Support Enforcement