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| Child Support Services | Support Orders |
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| Establishing, Modifying and Terminating a Support Order |
A support order is a legal order entered by a judge. The order spells out the amount of the child support obligation and how it is to be paid. Such an order is necessary if enforcement is ever needed. Unfortunately, a large number of custodial parents are caring for children without the other parent being present and without a legally binding support order. Establishing an order is a very important part of the child support enforcement process.
The Arkansas Child Support Guidelines, established by the Supreme Court of Arkansas, are used by both the courts and OCSE to determine the amount of the obligation. These guidelines consider the needs of the child, the child's present and future overall well-being, other dependents, and the ability of the parents to pay.
Establishing an enforceable support order depends on how much success you, your attorney or OCSE has in several critical areas: locating the noncustodial parent, identifying his or her ability to pay, and determining the financial needs of the child.
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. |
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| Access and Visitation |
OCSE does not have the authority to address issues that involve custody, access to your children, and visitation. However, the Arkansas Access and Visitation Mediation Program may be able to help you resolve these issues through mediation.
Mediation is a safe place to have a difficult conversation. This program may be good for you if
- both parents are willing to participate in mediation,
- both parents can invest time and energy creating a parenting plan for their children, and
- both parents can work cooperatively to resolve issues with the assistance of an impartial third party.
Mediation is another way to work through the problems and address the core issues brought forth by separation and divorce. However, mediation cannot
- provide legal advice,
- represent you in court,
- require either parent to participate,
- require parents to come to an agreement,
- enforce any agreement the parents may reach, or
- provide mediation services to grandparents or other relatives seeking access and visitation.
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| Collecting and Disbursing Support Obligations |
Arkansas law provides for income withholding in all child support orders, with very few exceptions. This method helps reduce anxiety and frustration when support payments are made and distributed regularly. After being served with a withholding order, employers must forward the money to the Arkansas Child Support Clearinghouse no later than the first pay period that occurs after 14 days following the date the income withholding was received. Information is available for Employers via this webpage.
Once received by the Arkansas Child Support Clearinghouse, payments are disbursed to the custodial parent within two business days. Payments received without adequate identifying information to readily match with an existing child support case requires additional research. Once the appropriate information is obtained, these payments are promptly disbursed. |
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| Assignment of Support Rights |
If you are receiving TEA or IV-E Foster Care, you are required by law to assign to the State your rights to child support. The State will retain all child support collections up to the amount of assistance that you received. The assignment only applies to the period of time that you are receiving TEA or Foster Care.
If you are receiving Medicaid or ARKids 1st you are required to assign your right to medical support to the State. The assignment only applies to the period of time that you are receiving Medicaid or ARKids 1st . |
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| Submit a Child Support Payment |
Noncustodial parents not paying through their employer by wage assignment and whose case is assigned for payment through the Arkansas Child Support Clearinghouse now have a choice on how they can make their child support payments.
Payments may be made in the following ways:
- Send check or money order directly to the Arkansas Child Support Clearinghouse, PO Box 8124, Little Rock, AR 72203;
- Pay using OSCE Web Pay with a credit card or eCheck;
- Pay by Western Union using the Western Union Quick Collect Service, available nationwide (call 1-800-325-6000 to find the Western Union Agent location nearest you.)
If paying by Western Union, you will need to provide the following information:
- Pay To: Arkansas Child Support Enforcement
- Code City: ARCHILD
- State: AR
- Account Info: Enter 9-digit case number in the account number field. Enter your Social Security number on the attention line.
Fee payments may also be made using any of the above methods. If a noncustodial parent is sending fee payments by mail, checks or money orders must be mailed to the Arkansas Child Support Clearinghouse, PO Box 8126, Little Rock, AR 72203. To receive proper credit for fee payment, child support and fee payments should not be included on the same check. It is important to write "Fees" in the memo space on your check or money order.
Custodial parents may also make fee payments using any of the methods listed above. If mailing a check or money order, fee payments should be mailed to the Arkansas Child Support Clearinghouse, PO Box 8124, Little Rock, AR 72203. It is important to write "Fees" in the memo space on your check or money order. |
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| Payment History and Records |
After your case is open, the noncustodial parent must send all child support payments to the Arkansas Child Support Clearinghouse. Payments will be recorded and forwarded to you if you are not currently receiving TEA from the State. If you are receiving TEA, excess collections are kept by the State if money is owed to the State for any past TEA you received. If no money is owed to the State, you will receive the money for arrears that are owed to you.
We are very careful to receipt child support payments correctly. However, mistakes do happen. If we mail a child support payment to you in error, you must return the payment to OCSE. For example, if OCSE seized the noncustodial parent's federal tax return and mailed the payment to you, then was informed by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) the refund was seized in error, you would be required to return the payment.
You may also call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to receive information about the most recent child support payment disbursed to you by calling toll free at 1-800-264-2445. Or you may log onto OSCE Web Pay. |
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| Electronic Payments |
OCSE offers two convenient ways for custodial parents to electronically receive their child support payments. The first option is through Direct Deposit to a checking or savings account. The second option is having payments deposited on the prepaid U.S. Bank ReliaCard Visa.
The primary requirement for Direct Deposit is for custodial parents to have an open checking or savings account in their name. Direct Deposit registration typically takes 14 business days to complete. Payments are disbursed within two business days of being received and identified by the Arkansas Child Support Clearinghouse. Please read the Direct Deposit Enrollment Form below for additional information.
There are no requirements for receiving a ReliaCard Visa. It's a prepaid card; not a credit card. There is no bank account or credit check required. Your payments are loaded directly on the card, and you can use the card to make purchases and to get cash. ReliaCard Visa registration typically takes 14 business days to complete. Payments are disbursed within two business days of being received and identified by the Arkansas Child Support Clearinghouse. Please read the ReliaCard Visa Enrollment Form. |
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| Request an Administrative Review |
| Customers are encouraged to attempt to resolve any issues that may arise at the local office level. An administrative review is available to custodial and noncustodial parents who have attempted to resolve issues with their caseworker and other available personnel in the local office but are dissatisfied with the results. Print out the form below and mail, fax, or hand-deliver it to the office responsible for your case. Click here for local office contact information. If you prefer, you may request the review by sending a note or letter to your local office. |
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| Request an Administrative Hearing |
| Administrative hearings are available for custodial and noncustodial parents who wish to appeal an administrative action that has been taken (e.g., driver's license suspension, federal or state tax offset, case closure for failure to cooperate with OCSE). Print the form below and mail, fax, or hand-deliver this form to the office responsible for your case. A hand-written or typed request with the information required, as stated on the form, is also acceptable. Click here for local office contact information. |
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| Update Parental Contact Information |
| Custodial and noncustodial parents may use the form below to provide updated contact information to OCSE. CUSTODIAL PARENTS: delivery of your child support checks can be delayed if the Office of Child Support Enforcement does not have a good address for you. Checks will not be automatically forwarded to your new address by the post office. The address provided to OCSE by you is the only address listed in the OCSE database for all of your child support cases. All money and any documents regarding your case(s) will be mailed to that address. Print the form below and mail, fax, or hand-deliver it to the office responsible for your case. A hand-written or typed notice is also acceptable. Click here for local office contact information. |
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