Arkansas Child Support

Arkansas child support is administered under the state’s Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE).

Applying For Child Support Services
If you are currently receiving state assistance, such as Transitional Employment Assistance (TEA) or Foster Care, you will automatically be referred to the OCSE for child support services. In fact, if you do receive state or federal assistance, you are required to cooperate in establishing paternity and collecting child support. These payments are then used to offset your public assistance benefits.

But you do not have to receive public assistance in order to obtain services from OCSE. These services are available to any parent or legal guardian who is interested in child support. You just need to complete and submit a written application through the Department of Human Services.

Applications can be obtained from your local OCSE office, or by calling 501-682-8398. Families who do not receive public assistance must pay a $25 nonrefundable fee in order to process this application and open your case.

In addition, the OCSE office aims to recover at least part of the actual costs of services that it provides to clients that are not in the TEA or Medicaid programs. This includes the cost of legal work done by OCSE attorneys, costs of establishing paternity, and costs of locating a non-custodial parent. Depending upon the case, the costs may be collected from the non-custodial parent or deducted from the child support payment before it is sent to the payee. For more information about the costs of OCSE services, check out the following websites:

For Custodial Parents:
2005CPApp_000.pdf

For Non-Custodial Parents:
2005NCPApp_000.pdf

In filling out the application for child support services, be prepared to provide the following information:

1. The non-custodial parent’s full name, address, employer, and Social Security number

2. Information about the non-custodial parent’s income and assets

3. Birth certificate(s) of the child(ren)

4. Your child support order, divorce decree, or separation agreement if you have one

5. Records of any previously paid child support

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Calculating Arkansas Child Support
The court will determine the amount of child support to be paid based on the needs of the child and the custodial and financial status of each parent. The amount of child support is determined using the Arkansas Supreme Court guidelines that are available at: Arkansas Child Support Judiciary

Enforcing Arkansas Child Support Orders
State and federal child support laws provide a number of tools and methods that the Arkansas OCSE can use to collect child support and enforce child support orders. The primary method of collecting child support is income withholding, whereby the child support payments are deducted from the non-custodial parent’s paycheck. OCSE can also file property liens; deduct child support from unemployment compensation or worker’s compensation; report child support debts to credit bureaus; suspend driver's, recreational, or professional licenses; seize vehicles or personal property for sale at public auction; intercept income tax refunds or lottery winnings; prepare your case for court action; and petition another state for assistance when needed.

Collecting and Distributing Arkansas Child Support Payments
Arkansas now requires that all new or modified child support orders mandate the use of income withholding as the method of payment. However, if there is "good cause," the court may make an exception to this rule. To qualify for this exception, you must prove that income withholding would not be in the best interest of your child and that you have made all of your previous payments on time.

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Once child support payments are made to the OCSE, they are typically processed on the same day that they are received and credited to the appropriate account the following business day.

Getting Information About Your Arkansas Child Support Case
Custodial parents can obtain information about child support payments from the OCSE’s toll free automated voice response service at (800)-264-2445 or online at: Child Support Services And either parent can also call, write or email his or her local OCSE caseworker for more information. If you don’t know who your caseworker is, you can call the OCSE Central Office Customer Service at 501-371-5349 or 877-731-3071 and they will direct you to the appropriate caseworker for your case.

Either parent can get help to have a child support order reviewed at least every three years, or whenever there is a substantial change in circumstances, to ensure that the order remains fair.

Reviewing and Modifying Arkansas Child Support Orders
From time to time, a support order may need to be modified due to a change in circumstances or terminated when the child no longer needs support. OCSE can assist with these procedures. If you have a case managed by OCSE, you should request a review in writing to the child support office that you normally contact for assistance. If you do not have a case with OCSE, you will need to consult with the court or a private attorney, or apply for services with OCSE.

Arkansas Child Support Evaders
The Arkansas OCSE office maintains a website at: Arkansas' Child Support Evaders to identify individuals that have not made a child support payment in at least six months, and owe at least $5,000 in child support arrears. In each case, child support arrest warrants have been issued for the arrest of the offending individual. If you information about any of the people on this website, you are asked to contact the Arkansas Office of Child Support Enforcement at 1-877-731-3071.

Making Child Support Payments
Payments may be made in the following ways:

By Western Union:
If paying by Western Union, you will need to provide the following information:

1. Pay To: Arkansas Child Support Enforcement

2. Code City: ARCHILD

3. State: AR

4. Account Info: Enter 9-digit case number in the account number field. Enter your Social Security number on the attention line.

For More Information About Arkansas Child Support

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