Arkansas

Family Law

Family Law

Section 9-14-231 – Overdue support as lien on personal property

(a)

(1)

(A) Support that has been ordered paid through the registry of the court or through the Arkansas child support clearinghouse and that has become overdue shall become a lien on all personal property owned by the noncustodial parent wherever it may be found and need not be limited to the confines of the county where the circuit court is sitting.
(B) A lien originating in another state shall be accorded full faith and credit as if the lien originated in the State of Arkansas.
(2) Upon proof that the noncustodial parent has refused or failed to support his or her child or children pursuant to the order, the court may cause the property to be immediately surrendered to the sheriff of the county where the property is located and may direct the sheriff to take action as necessary to have it sold and apply the proceeds from any sale thereof toward the costs of the sale, any superior liens, the support obligation, including court costs and any attorney’s fees awarded pursuant thereto, and any inferior liens.
(3) Any amounts in excess of the overdue support, costs, fees, and other liens shall be paid to the noncustodial parent.
(4) Any person who may purchase any personal property owned by the noncustodial parent for value and without notice of the lien for support shall take the property free of the lien.
(b) The lien against personal property created in this section shall bear the same priority as set forth in § 4-9-322.

Ark. Code § 9-14-231

Acts 1985, No. 989, § 3; A.S.A. 1947, § 34-1221; Acts 1987, No. 533, § 1; 1997, No. 1296, § 29; 1999, No. 1514, § 14; 2003, No. 1473, § 16