Last updated: May 20, 2026
Bottom line
In Arkansas, child support is handled through court orders and the Arkansas Office of Child Support Enforcement, often called OCSE. OCSE can help locate a parent, establish paternity, set up a child and medical support order, collect payments, and enforce unpaid support. OCSE is part of the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration and works with state and federal child support programs.
Child support is not automatic just because a parent is raising a child alone. If there is no order, you usually need to apply for child support services or file through court. If you already have an order, it may not be automatically sent to OCSE for enforcement. You may need to open a case with OCSE if you want help collecting or enforcing it.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Child support can affect safety, custody, public benefits, taxes, and court rights. If your case is complicated, if the other parent has been abusive, or if you were served with court papers, contact AR Law Help, a private attorney, or the court for legal help.
If you need help today
Child support can take time. If you need food, rent help, child care, legal help, or safety support now, use faster help while you work on child support.
- Emergency danger: Call 911.
- Domestic violence or safety concerns: Call Women & Children First at 800-332-4443 or contact a local domestic violence program. If using a shared phone or computer is not safe, use a safer device.
- Local emergency help: Contact Arkansas 211 for food, shelter, rent help, child care, and other local programs.
- Legal help: Use AR Law Help for free legal information and legal aid intake.
For other Arkansas help pages on this site, see Arkansas emergency help, Arkansas housing help, and Arkansas safety resources.
Where to start
Start with your real situation. Do not try to solve every child support issue at once.
No child support order yet
Use the MyCase application to request services from OCSE. You can ask for help with paternity, support, medical support, and payment collection.
You already have an order
Check whether OCSE has your case. Arkansas says court-ordered child support cases are not always automatically sent to OCSE. If you need help collecting, you may need to open a case.
Payments stopped or are late
Use OCSE MyCase to check your case. If you cannot see the answer, contact the office assigned to your case or the Arkansas Child Support Clearinghouse.
You feel unsafe
Do not handle child support alone if it could put you or your child in danger. Contact a domestic violence advocate and tell OCSE about safety concerns before you share new information.
If child support is only one part of the problem, you may also need Arkansas child care, Arkansas TANF, or Arkansas WIC.
Quick reference table
| Need | Best first step | Reality check |
|---|---|---|
| Open a child support case | Apply through MyCase application | You may need the other parent’s information and documents about the child. |
| Estimate the amount | Use the official Arkansas calculator | The calculator is only an estimate. The judge decides the order. |
| Track payments | Register for OCSE MyCase | Payments can be delayed if they cannot be matched to the right case. |
| Change an order | Ask OCSE or court about change an order | All changes must be signed by a judge. |
| Custody or visitation problem | Use legal aid, court, mediation, or an attorney | OCSE says it cannot decide custody or visitation issues. |
What Arkansas OCSE can and cannot do
Arkansas OCSE helps establish and enforce court-ordered financial and medical support. It can work with families where the parents live in Arkansas, and it can also coordinate with other states, tribes, or countries when needed.
| OCSE may help with | OCSE does not do this |
|---|---|
| Finding the other parent | Representing you as your personal lawyer |
| Establishing paternity | Giving legal advice about custody |
| Getting a child support order | Changing custody or visitation orders |
| Medical support in the order | Guaranteeing a payment by a certain date |
| Collecting and enforcing payments | Forgiving unpaid support owed to you |
OCSE says it does not represent the custodial parent or the noncustodial parent. Its role is to help establish and enforce orders so children receive support. If you need someone to advise you about your own rights, speak with legal aid or an attorney.
How to apply for child support in Arkansas
You can apply for OCSE services online through the Arkansas MyCase child support system. The application asks for information about you, the other parent, the child or children, and medical coverage. Arkansas also lists a $25 application fee per noncustodial parent. If you receive certain public benefits, ask OCSE whether any fees are waived for your case.
Information to gather before you apply
- Your full name, mailing address, phone number, and email.
- The child’s birth certificate and Social Security number, if available.
- The other parent’s full legal name, date of birth, last known address, phone number, employer, and Social Security number, if known.
- Copies of any child support, custody, guardianship, divorce, juvenile, probate, adoption, or temporary orders.
- Any signed Acknowledgment of Paternity.
- Payment records from a court clerk or another state’s child support agency.
- Orders of protection or documents showing a risk of violence or danger from the other parent.
- Medical insurance information for the child.
Tip
Do not wait to apply just because you do not know everything about the other parent. Give what you have. Old addresses, past employers, family contacts, and court case numbers can still help OCSE locate a parent or match records.
How Arkansas child support is calculated
Arkansas uses child support guidelines and a worksheet. The official support guidelines and calculator are from the Arkansas courts. The calculator is based on the Arkansas Child Support Guidelines effective July 1, 2020.
The worksheet looks at both parents’ income and then applies the child support chart. It may also include added child-rearing costs, such as the child’s health insurance, extraordinary medical expenses, and work-related child care expenses.
The official calculator can estimate the amount and create a worksheet you can save or print. But it is not a promise. The judge has the final authority to decide the child support amount.
| What affects the amount | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Both parents’ incomes | The guideline uses each parent’s share of the combined income. |
| Number of children | The chart changes based on how many children need support. |
| Health insurance | Medical support can be part of the order. |
| Child care costs | Work-related child care can affect the worksheet. |
| Other court orders | Some existing court-ordered support may affect the calculation. |
For a broader overview of child support basics, see child support help.
How payments are received and tracked
For OCSE enforcement or payment processing cases, payments go through the Arkansas Child Support Clearinghouse. Arkansas says payments are received every business day and are usually disbursed within two business days unless there is not enough information to identify the correct case.
Custodial parties can receive support through direct deposit or a U.S. Bank ReliaCard. Arkansas explains these choices on its receiving payments page. MyCase can also show payment information, case status, contact updates, and messages with OCSE staff.
Watch out for direct payments
If an order says payments must go through the Clearinghouse, do not rely on informal cash, app, or hand-to-hand payments unless you have clear legal guidance. Direct payments can cause record problems and may not count the way you expect. Ask OCSE or a lawyer before changing how payments are made.
What to do when child support is unpaid
If payments are missing, start by checking MyCase and calling the office assigned to your case. Have your case number ready. Keep a simple list of missed payments, partial payments, employment changes, address changes, and anything the other parent tells you about work or income.
OCSE may use enforcement tools when a parent falls behind. These can include income withholding, intercepting tax refunds, reporting debts, or other remedies that fit the case. For some federal enforcement, owing child support can also affect passports. The U.S. State Department says a person may be ineligible for a passport if they owe $2,500 or more in child support. See passport child support.
Do not assume enforcement will be quick. If the other parent changes jobs often, is paid in cash, lives in another state, or hides information, collection can be slower. Keep updating OCSE with any new information you learn.
Important
Past-due child support does not usually disappear just because a child turns 18. Arkansas says OCSE does not have authority to forgive unpaid child support. If your only or last child on the order is close to 18 and arrears are owed to you, ask your local child support office what steps may be needed.
Changing a child support order
A child support order does not change just because someone lost a job, got a raise, moved, started seeing the child more, or started keeping the child more often. In Arkansas, changes to child support orders must be signed by a judge.
OCSE says either parent may ask for a review at least every three years, or sooner if there is a significant change. Arkansas describes a significant income change as 20% or more per month for purposes of asking the court to modify the amount. The amount may go up, go down, or stay the same after review.
If your order came from another state, the other state’s law may control when it can be changed. Ask the child support agency in the state that issued the order or speak with a lawyer.
Paternity and child support
If parents were not married when the child was born, legal paternity may need to be established before support can be ordered. Arkansas has information on its paternity page.
If either parent is unsure who the father is, do not sign an Acknowledgment of Paternity just to move the case along. Arkansas says a genetic test may show that a man is not the biological father or may show that it is almost certain, 99% or more, that he is the father.
Paternity can affect child support, the birth certificate, medical history, benefits, inheritance, and other legal rights. If you are unsure what signing means, ask legal aid, the court, or a lawyer before you sign.
Custody, visitation, and safety
Child support and visitation are separate issues. Arkansas OCSE says it does not have authority to address custody and visitation. It also says a custodial party may not deny court-ordered visitation because the other parent is not paying support, and a noncustodial parent may not stop paying support because visitation is being denied.
If custody or visitation is the real issue, look at the Arkansas custody page, contact legal aid, or ask the court about your options. The Access Mediation program may help some parents work on access, visitation, custody, and child support issues if mediation is safe and both sides are willing.
If there has been abuse, stalking, threats, coercive control, or fear about the other parent finding your location, get safety support before filing or updating information. A child support case may involve addresses, court dates, papers, and contact with the other parent. Ask an advocate what is safest for you.
For more help on this site, see Arkansas community help, Arkansas baby items, and Arkansas health care.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Waiting too long to apply. Child support can take time, especially if paternity, service of papers, or another state is involved.
- Using only verbal agreements. A court order gives clearer rights and payment records.
- Throwing away payment proof. Keep bank records, court records, MyCase records, letters, and notices.
- Assuming custody changes support. Support usually keeps running until the order changes or the law ends it.
- Ignoring court papers. If you receive papers, read the date and get legal help quickly.
- Sharing unsafe information. If the other parent is abusive, ask about confidentiality and safety before giving new location details.
- Counting on a certain amount. Use the calculator as a planning tool, not a promise.
Backup help while child support is pending
Child support may help your budget later, but it may not solve an emergency this week. If you need support now, also check:
- Arkansas grants guide for a wider list of real help paths.
- SNAP food help if food is the most urgent need.
- Medicaid help if you or your child need health coverage.
- child care help if work or school is blocked by child care costs.
- local resource guide for 211, Community Action, churches, charities, and local offices.
Phone scripts you can use
Calling OCSE to start a case
“Hi, I need to apply for child support services in Arkansas. I am the parent or caretaker of the child. Can you tell me how to apply, what documents I need, and whether any fee applies to my case?”
Calling about missing payments
“Hi, I have an OCSE case and payments have stopped or changed. My case number is _____. Can you check whether a payment was received, whether enforcement is active, and what information you need from me?”
Calling about changing an order
“Hi, I need to ask about a review of my child support order. There has been a change in income or child needs. Can you explain how to request a review in writing and what proof I should send?”
Calling legal aid
“Hi, I need help with an Arkansas child support problem. There may also be custody, safety, or court issues. Can you screen me for legal aid or tell me the next safe step?”
Resumen en español
En Arkansas, la manutención de menores puede manejarse por la oficina OCSE. OCSE puede ayudar a localizar al otro padre, establecer paternidad, crear una orden de manutención, cobrar pagos y hacer cumplir una orden. Si no hay una orden, puede solicitar servicios. Si ya hay una orden, tal vez tenga que abrir un caso con OCSE para recibir ayuda con cobros.
Use la calculadora oficial solo como estimado. El juez decide la cantidad final. Si hay violencia doméstica, amenazas o miedo, hable con una organización de seguridad o ayuda legal antes de compartir su dirección o empezar el proceso.
FAQs about child support in Arkansas
How do I apply for child support in Arkansas?
You can apply through Arkansas OCSE online using MyCase, or contact OCSE for help. The application asks for information about you, the other parent, the child, medical coverage, and any court orders or safety documents.
Is the Arkansas child support calculator exact?
No. The official calculator can estimate support and create a worksheet, but the judge has the final authority to decide the amount.
Can OCSE help if I already have a court order?
Yes, but child support orders are not always automatically sent to OCSE. If you need help collecting or enforcing an order, ask OCSE how to open a case.
Can I stop visitation if the other parent does not pay?
No. Arkansas OCSE says child support and visitation are separate. A custodial party may not deny court-ordered visitation because support is unpaid.
Can the paying parent stop paying if visitation is blocked?
No. Arkansas OCSE says a noncustodial parent may not stop paying court-ordered support because visitation is denied. The parent should seek legal help about visitation.
When does child support end in Arkansas?
In general, support ends when the child turns 18 unless the child is still in high school. If the child is still in high school, it may continue until graduation or the end of the school year after the child turns 19, whichever is earlier, unless the order says otherwise. Past-due support may still be owed.
Can I change the child support amount?
Maybe. OCSE says either parent may ask for review at least every three years or sooner after a significant change. A judge must sign any change.
What if the other parent lives in another state?
OCSE can coordinate with other states, but interstate cases can take longer because another state’s child support agency and courts may be involved.
About this guide
This guide uses official federal, state, local, and other high-trust nonprofit and community sources mentioned in the article.
A Single Mother is independent and is not a government agency, benefits office, lender, law firm, medical provider, or tax advisor.
Program rules, funding, local availability, and eligibility can change. Always confirm details with the official program before you apply or make decisions.
Verification: Last verified May 20, 2026, next review August 20, 2026.
Corrections: If you see something wrong or outdated, email suggestions@asinglemother.org.
Disclaimer: This article is for general information only. It is not legal, financial, medical, tax, immigration, disability, safety, or government-agency advice.