Raising children is expensive. After a divorce, paying for children’s care and expenses can cause division and tension between the parents. The State of Arkansas has laws that ensure both parents pay a fair portion of the expense.
However, making decisions and advocating for child support often involves delicate and complicated situations. You need an experienced family law attorney to assist you. We at Dearmore Law have extensive experience in family law. We assist clients in Northwest Arkansas as well as the whole of Arkansas. Call our office today at (479) 225-2567 or contact a family lawyer online to schedule an appointment about a child support case.
Arkansas Child Support Amount Guidelines
As part of a child custody ruling, a judge will usually include an order that requires the non-custodial parent to pay child support to the custodial parent. This can also happen in joint custody cases depending on the circumstances. Arkansas provides guidelines on the amount of the paying parent’s monthly obligation. The amount depends on the non-custodial parent’s monthly income and the number of children involved. The amount also depends on parents’ health and financial circumstances, what is counted as “income,” and whether a parent is working.
Other potential situations that cause the amount to deviate from the guidelines is if the Court finds that a parent is “underemployed,” or choosing to earn less than what they are capable of. In this case, the court may Court order a higher than usual amount. In a situation when the child has special needs or a disability, then the Court may also order a higher payment amount.
Providing Documentation for Child Support
Arkansas’ Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE) needs documentation about your family and financial situation. The more details you provide, the easier it will be to process your case and to collect child support payments for your children. The OCSE recommends you gather the following documentation to present your case:
- Information about the noncustodial parent
- Name, address, and Social Security number
- Name and address of current or recent employer
- Names of friends and relatives, names of organizations to which he or she might belong
- Information about his or her income and assets (pay slips, tax returns, bank accounts, investments, or property holdings)
- Physical description, or photograph, if possible
- Children’s birth certificates
- If paternity is an issue, written statements (letters or notes) in which the alleged father has said or implied that he is the father of the child
- Your child support order, divorce decree, or separation agreement if you have one
- Records of any child support received in the past. (https://www.dfa.arkansas.gov/child-support/resources/faqs/general-questions-about-ocse/)
Do you need assistance with getting child support? Call us now!
If you are going through a child support dispute, our family law attorneys can assist you to receive a fair ruling in your case. We at Dearmore Law will make sure that your case is properly presented to the court and that your rights are protected throughout the process. Call our office today at (479) 225-2567 or contact a family lawyer online to schedule an appointment about a child support case.