§ 9-10-112 - Income withholding -- Delinquent noncustodial parent. - Arkansas Statutes

9-10-112. Income withholding -- Delinquent noncustodial parent.

(a) (1) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, all persons under court order on August 1, 1985, to pay support who become delinquent thereunder in an amount equal to the total court-ordered support payable for thirty (30) days shall be subject to income withholding.

(2) (A) In all orders that provide for the payment of money for the support of any child, the circuit court shall include a provision directing a payor to deduct from money, income, or periodic earnings due the noncustodial parent an amount that is sufficient to meet the periodic child support payments imposed by the court, plus an additional amount of not less than twenty percent (20%) of the periodic child support payment to be applied toward liquidation of any accrued arrearage due under the order.

(B) The use of income withholding does not constitute an election of remedies and does not preclude the use of other enforcement remedies.

(b) (1) Beginning October 1, 1989, in all cases brought pursuant to Title IV-D, the support orders issued or modified shall include a provision for immediate implementation of income withholding, absent a finding of good cause not to require immediate income withholding or a written agreement of the parties incorporated in the order setting forth an alternative agreement. Otherwise, it shall become effective under subsection (a) of this section following the procedure set forth in subsection (c) of this section, or as provided in subsection (d) of this section.

(2) Beginning January 1, 1994, all support orders issued or modified shall include a provision for immediate implementation of income withholding absent a finding of good cause not to require immediate income withholding or a written agreement of the parties incorporated in the order setting forth an alternative agreement.

(3) In all non-Title IV-D cases brought prior to January 1, 1994, the support order may include a provision for immediate implementation of income withholding, absent a finding of good cause not to require immediate withholding or a written agreement of the parties incorporated in the order setting forth an alternative agreement. The judge of each division shall determine if all support orders shall be subject to the provisions of this section and shall enter a standing order setting forth the treatment of non-Title IV-D cases in that division prior to January 1, 1994.

(c) In activating an order of income withholding that did not become effective immediately, the court shall follow the same procedures and requirements as set forth in the laws of this state applicable to child support orders and judgments entered by the circuit court.

(d) In cases brought pursuant to Title IV-D with support orders effective prior to October 1, 1989, income withholding may take effect immediately in any child support case at the request or upon the consent of the noncustodial parent.