§ 28-65-310 - Support of minor ward. - Arkansas Statutes

28-65-310. Support of minor ward.

(a) The support of their unmarried minor children is chargeable jointly and severally upon the property of the husband and the property of the wife, and in the relation thereto, they may be sued either jointly or severally.

(b) Although the responsibility for the care, maintenance, and education of a minor rests upon his or her parents or persons in loco parentis, if there are such persons, nevertheless in appropriate cases and taking into consideration the relative resources and circumstances of a parent and the minor ward, the court, in its discretion, may authorize the guardian of the estate to expend income or principal of the ward's estate for the ward's care, maintenance, and education.

(c) (1) As far as necessary for the purpose, except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, the income of the ward's estate shall be first applied to his or her care, maintenance, and education.

(2) On order of the court, any surplus of the income may be applied to the care, maintenance, and education of the dependents of the ward.

(3) If the income is not sufficient to care for, maintain, and educate the ward and his or her dependents, the court may order the expenditure of such portion of the principal as it from time to time finds necessary for such purposes.