Arkansas · AR

Arkansas Parenting Plan Guide

What you need to file a parenting plan in Arkansas — the state's terminology, required forms, education requirements, and a free template to build from.

Informational only. This is not legal advice. Confirm every requirement with a Arkansas family-law attorney before filing.

Standard term used

Standard Visitation Schedule

Parent education class

Not statewide required

Filing note

File in circuit court where the child has resided the last 6 months.

Official state courts site

arcourts.gov

What a Arkansas parenting plan should cover

Legal custody: who makes decisions about school, healthcare, and religion.
Physical custody: the residential schedule for weekdays, weekends, and holidays.
A specific weekly or two-week custody schedule (2-2-3, 2-2-5-5, week-on/off, etc.).
Holiday and school-break rotation, usually alternating odd/even years.
Transportation and exchange rules — who drives, where, and at what time.
Communication rules between parents and between each parent and the child.
How future disputes will be handled (mediation, parenting coordinator, or court).

A simple Arkansas parenting plan template

Copy this outline into a document, fill in the specifics, and review with an attorney before filing with the Arkansas courts.

ARKANSAS PARENTING PLAN

1. PARTIES
   Parent A: __________________________
   Parent B: __________________________
   Child(ren):
     Name / DOB: ______________________

2. LEGAL DECISION-MAKING
   [ ] Joint    [ ] Sole (Parent A)    [ ] Sole (Parent B)
   Notes: ____________________________

3. RESIDENTIAL SCHEDULE (Standard Visitation Schedule)
   Regular schedule (specify pattern):
   ____________________________________
   Start date of cycle: _______________

4. HOLIDAYS & SCHOOL BREAKS
   Alternating odd/even years:
     Thanksgiving:   A odd / B even
     Winter break:   ______________
     Spring break:   ______________
     Summer:         ______________
     Birthdays:      ______________

5. EXCHANGES
   Location: __________________________
   Time: ______________________________
   Transportation responsibility: _____

6. COMMUNICATION
   Between parents: [ ] app  [ ] email  [ ] text
   Parent-child while at other home:
     Frequency: ______  Method: ______

7. DECISION FRAMEWORK FOR DISPUTES
   Step 1: Direct discussion (written)
   Step 2: Mediation
   Step 3: Court

8. SIGNATURES
   Parent A: _______________  Date: ___
   Parent B: _______________  Date: ___

Child support in Arkansas

Arkansas uses the Income Shares model: both parents' incomes are combined, the state's schedule sets the total support the children would have received in an intact household, and each parent owes their percentage share of it. The worksheet starts from gross monthly income.

Shared-time credit

Applies at roughly 141+ overnights per year for the lesser-time parent.

Self-support reserve

About $1,100/month of the paying parent's income is protected.

Arkansas switched from a percentage-of-income chart to income shares in 2020. Equal-time cases use a cross-credit worksheet.

Estimate Arkansas child support

Arkansas parenting plan FAQ

How is child support calculated in Arkansas?

Arkansas uses the Income Shares model, which means both parents' incomes are combined, the state's schedule sets the total support the children would have received in an intact household, and each parent owes their percentage share of it. The worksheet starts from gross monthly income. At typical middle incomes the guideline devotes roughly 16% of the relevant income to one child and about 24% to two children.

Does parenting time reduce child support in Arkansas?

Yes. Arkansas applies a shared-parenting adjustment once the lesser-time parent has at least about 141 overnights per year. Below that threshold the standard guideline amount usually applies in full.

Is there a minimum income protection in Arkansas?

Yes. Arkansas protects roughly $1,100 of the paying parent's monthly income as a self-support reserve before support is ordered.

Does a Arkansas parenting plan have to be in writing?

File in circuit court where the child has resided the last 6 months. Courts in Arkansas expect the residential schedule (what the state calls a Standard Visitation Schedule), holiday rotation, exchange logistics, and a dispute-resolution step to be spelled out in writing.

Put your Arkansas parenting plan into practice

CustodyTrac keeps both parents on the same custody calendar, logs every exchange and message, and produces court-ready PDFs — free forever.

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Other states

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See all 50 states + DC

Next steps after your state's rules

Estimate support under this state's guideline, pick a schedule, and keep the record your court will ask for.

Parenting plan guides by state
Filing venue, required classes, and the terminology each state's courts use.
State-by-state child support estimator
Applies your state's own guideline model to your numbers.
Custody schedule patterns explained
2-2-3, 2-2-5-5, week-on/week-off, and every other common rotation.
Custody and family law glossary
Plain-English definitions of the terms in your order.
Court-ready PDF legal exports
One-click evidence packets for your attorney or a hearing — unlimited and free.
Free co-parenting app for both parents
Shared calendar, messaging, expenses, and court-ready exports at no cost to either household.

Draft your plan with free tools

Everything below is free, printable, and court-ready in format.

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