(Download the WordPerfect format here.) IN RE: ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NUMBER 10: ARKANSAS CHILD SUPPORT GUIDELINES ___ S.W.2d ___ Supreme Court of Arkansas Opinion delivered January 22, 1998 Per Curiam. On September 25, 1997, based on recommendations received from the Supreme Court Committee on Child Support pursuant to P.L. 100-485 and Ark. Code Ann. §9-12-312(a), this Court published Administrative Order Number 10, adopting the most recent version of the child-support guidelines including the weekly and monthly family support charts and the Affidavit of Financial Means. The Order became effective October 1, 1997, and certain corrections were made to the charts before the Order reached the printer. The Committee has now apprised the Court of an unintended omission on the Affidavit of Financial Means. On page one of the Affidavit, Number 10 should include "(h) child care." This item is not a new consideration, having been included on the Affidavit of Financial Means since the Court first adopted it for use in 1991. THEREFORE, effective immediately, the Court republishes Administrative Order Number 10: Arkansas: Arkansas Child Support Guidelines in its entirety including the corrected weekly and monthly family support charts and the corrected Affidavit of Financial Means. Newbern, J. dissents. I dissent for the reasons stated in the dissenting opinion of Hickman, J., when the per curiam order adopting the guidelines was issued. In re: Guidelines for Child Support Enforcement, 301 Ark. 627, 784 S.W.2d 589 (1990). ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NUMBER 10 -- CHILD SUPPORT GUIDELINES SECTION I. AUTHORITY AND SCOPE. Pursuant to Act 948 of 1989, as amended, codified at Ark. Code Ann. § 9-12-312(a) and the Family Support Act of 1988, Pub. L. No. 100-485 (1988), the Court adopts and publishes Administrative Order Number 10 -Child Support Guidelines. This Administrative Order includes and incorporates by reference the attached weekly and monthly family support charts and the attached Affidavit of Financial Means. It is a rebuttable presumption that the amount of child support calculated pursuant to the most recent revision of the Family Support Chart is the amount of child support to be awarded in any judicial proceeding for divorce, separation, paternity, or child support. The court may grant less or more support if the evidence shows that the needs of the dependents require a different level of support. It shall be sufficient in a particular case to rebut the presumption that the amount of child support calculated American LegalNet, Inc. www.USCourtForms.com pursuant to the Family Support Chart is correct, if the court enters in the case a specific written finding within the Order that the amount so calculated, after consideration of all relevant factors, including the best interests of the child, is unjust or inappropriate. Findings that rebut the guidelines shall state the payor's income, recite the amount of support required under the guidelines, recite whether or not the Court deviated from the Family Support Chart and include a justification of why the order varies from the guidelines as may be permitted under SECTION V. hereinafter. SECTION II. DEFINITION OF INCOME. Income means any form of payment, periodic or otherwise, due to an individual, regardless of source, including wages, salaries, commissions, bonuses, worker's compensation, disability, payments pursuant to a pension or retirement program, and interest less proper deductions for: 1. Federal and state income tax; 2. Withholding for Social Security (FICA), Medicare, and railroad retirement; 3. Medical insurance paid for dependant children, and 4. Presently paid support for other dependents by Court order. SECTION III. CALCULATION OF SUPPORT. a. Basic Considerations. The most recent revision of the family support charts is based on the weekly/monthly income of the payor parent as defined in Section II. For purposes of computing child support payments, a month consists of 4.334 weeks. Biweekly means a payor is paid once every two weeks or 26 times during a calendar year. Bimonthly means a payor is paid twice a month or 24 times during a calendar year. Use the lower figure on the chart for income to determine support. Do not interpolate (i.e., use the $200.00 amount for all income pay between $200.00 and $210.00 per week.) The amount paid to the Clerk of the Court or to the Arkansas Clearinghouse for administrative costs pursuant to Ark. Code Ann. § 9-12-312(e)(3); § 9-10-109(b)(1); and § 9-14-804 is not to beincluded as support. b. Income Which Exceeds Chart. When the payor's income exceeds that shown on the chart, use the following percentages of the payor's weekly or monthly income as defined in SECTION II. to set and establish a sum certain dollar amount of support: One dependent: 15% Two dependents: 21% Three dependents: 25% Four dependents: 28% Five dependents: 30% Six dependents: 32% American LegalNet, Inc. www.USCourtForms.com c. Nonsalaried Payors. For Social Security Disability recipients, the court should consider the amount of any separate awards made to the disability recipient's spouse and/or children on account of the payor's disability. For Veteran's Administration disability recipients, Workers' Compensation disability recipients, and Unemployment Compensation recipients, the court shall consider those benefits as income. For military personnel, see latest military pay allocation chart and benefits. BAQ (quarters allowance) should be added to other income to reach total income. Military personnel are entitled to draw BAQ at a "with dependents" rate if they are providing support pursuant to a court order. However, there may be circumstances in which the payor is unable to draw BAQ or may draw BAQ only at the "without dependents" rate. Use the BAQ for which the payor is actually eligible. In some areas, military personnel receive a variable allowance. It may not be appropriate to include this allowance in calculation of income since it is awarded to offset living expenses which exceed those normally incurred. For commission workers, support shall be calculated based on minimum draw plus additional commissions. For self-employed payors, support shall be calculated based on last year's federal and state income tax returns and the quarterly estimates for the current year. Also the court shall consider the amount the payor is capable of earning or a net worth approach based on property, life-style, etc. d. Imputed Income.