How to collect unpaid child support in Arkansas

How unpaid support is collected, interest and license rules, and a free letter asking the agency to enforce.

Checked against official sources: Oct 25, 2026.

Short answer

Arrears means child support that is past due. Arkansas law provides interest on unpaid support at 10% a year. Interest can be collected once a court reduces it to a judgment; OCSE tries to get a judgment when appropriate.

Interest on unpaid support
10% a year
License suspension
Past-due support equal to or more than three times the total monthly support obligation.
Passport denial
Over $2,500 past due (federal law)

What the agency can do in Arkansas

Arrears means support that is past due. The child support agency can use these tools to collect it:

  • Income withholding
  • State and federal tax refund offset
  • Credit bureau reporting (past due over $1,000)
  • Bank account levy (arrears of at least $500 or three months of support, with no payment in 45 days)
  • Driver's, occupational and professional license suspension
  • Passport denial (past due of $2,500 or more)
  • Contempt of court and jail
  • State and federal criminal nonsupport

Ask the agency in writing to collect what is owed: Ask the agency to collect unpaid support

What federal law adds

  • Tax refunds. The federal government can take a federal tax refund to pay past-due child support. Law: 42 U.S.C. 664
  • Passports. A parent who owes more than $2,500 in past-due support can be refused a passport. Law: 42 U.S.C. 652(k)
  • Pay withholding limit. For support, up to 50% of take-home pay can be withheld if the parent supports another spouse or child, or 60% if not. It is 55% or 65% when support is more than 12 weeks behind. Law: 15 U.S.C. 1673(b)
  • Past-due support. Each unpaid payment becomes a judgment on the day it is due. It can't be lowered later, except back to the date the other parent got notice of a request to change the order. Law: 42 U.S.C. 666(a)(9)

Does unpaid support grow in Arkansas?

Arkansas law provides interest on unpaid support at 10% a year. Interest can be collected once a court reduces it to a judgment; OCSE tries to get a judgment when appropriate.

Source: OCSE, Past Due Child Support

When the court steps in, in Arkansas

OCSE may ask the court to hold a parent in contempt when other remedies have failed and the parent is not following a payment plan; the court can order jail until conditions are met.

Licenses in Arkansas

Past-due support equal to or more than three times the total monthly support obligation.

In nearby states

What to do now in Arkansas

  1. Keep a payment record

    A simple list of payments received and missed helps the agency.

  2. Ask the agency to enforce

    If you don't have a case yet, open one with Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration, Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE) (501-371-5349) · Apply online

  3. Share what you know

    Tell the agency where the other parent works or lives.

  4. Get the numbers in writing

    Request a written statement of what is owed.

Free legal help in Arkansas

Questions about unpaid support in Arkansas

What happens if child support is not paid in Arkansas?

Arrears means support that is past due. The child support agency can use these tools to collect it: Income withholding; State and federal tax refund offset; Credit bureau reporting (past due over $1,000); Bank account levy (arrears of at least $500 or three months of support, with no payment in 45 days); Driver's, occupational and professional license suspension; Passport denial (past due of $2,500 or more); Contempt of court and jail; State and federal criminal nonsupport.

Can a license be suspended for unpaid child support in Arkansas?

Past-due support equal to or more than three times the total monthly support obligation.

What can a court do about unpaid support in Arkansas?

OCSE may ask the court to hold a parent in contempt when other remedies have failed and the parent is not following a payment plan; the court can order jail until conditions are met.

Is there interest on unpaid child support in Arkansas?

Arkansas law provides interest on unpaid support at 10% a year. Interest can be collected once a court reduces it to a judgment; OCSE tries to get a judgment when appropriate.

Related Arkansas pages

Sources

Sources

Last checked: Oct 25, 2026.

Federal sources