Arkansas Divorce
If you are considering divorce, find a local Arkansas divorce attorney to find out more
about filing for divorce. Working through the Arkansas divorce process alone may cause
you to miss filing important paperwork, but by speaking with a local Arkansas divorce
lawyer, you can work to protect the rights of you and your family.
Learn more about the Arkansas divorce process and find an Arkansas divorce lawyer in
your area.
Total Divorce can help you connect
with an Arkansas divorce attorney. Set up a preliminary consultation to
discuss your Arkansas divorce options today. Call at 877-349-1310 or fill out a divorce case review form
to find a local Arkansas divorce attorney.
Overview of Arkansas Divorce Law
Do you know what Arkansas divorce
law means to you? Arkansas divorce can be complicated, but with the help of an Arkansas divorce lawyer, you can
make sure you are taking all the right steps when filing for divorce.
Grounds for Arkansas Divorce: Arkansas divorce courts accept both fault and no fault ground
for divorce. The courts may enter a no fault order of divorce if you and your
spouse have lived separate for 18 months without cohabitation. Arkansas fault
grounds for divorce include:
- Cruel treatment that endangers the life of the spouse
- If either spouse was impotent when married and remains so
- Living conditions for one spouse are considered intolerable because of indignities by the other spouse
- Adultery
- Incurable insanity causing the spouses to live apart for at least three years
Arkansas Divorce Residency Requirements: To file for divorce in Arkansas, the petitioning spouse
needs to be a resident of the state for at least 60 days before filing of the
petition and at must reside there for at least three months before entry of the decree.
Arkansas Property Division: The state of Arkansas is an equitable distribution state,
but Arkansas divorce law creates a presumption in favor of equal division of property.
If equal division is deemed to be "inequitable," the courts consider
many factors, such as
- Length of the marriage
- Health of you and your spouse
- Federal income taxes after property division
- Contribution to the property by each spouse
- Occupations, vocation skills, employability and income of you and your spouse
Divorce Waiting Periods in Arkansas: Before you can file for divorce on no fault grounds, the
spouses must have lived apart for 18 months. After the petition has been filed,
there is a 30 day waiting period. There is not a waiting period to remarry
after the divorce decree has been finalized.
Arkansas Child Custody: Arkansas
divorce courts act in the best interest of the child when determining child
custody. The courts may take into consideration the preferences of the child if
he or she is old enough to make such decisions--there is no specific age at
which the wishes of the child should be taken into account.
Child Support in Arkansas:
The Arkansas child support guidelines are based on the income of the paying
spouse and a table provides the specific amount of support based on the
payer's weekly income and the number of children to support. If the court determines that
there is reason to deviate from the child support guidelines, it may consider
such factors as
- Health care expenses and insurance
- Creation of a trust fund for the child
- Daycare expenses
- Spending extraordinary time with the non-custodial parent
- Other children either parent is supporting
Note that Arkansas divorce law recognizes
covenant marriage, a more strictly binding form of marriage. For those who have
entered into a covenant marriage, the grounds required for dissolution are
different, and waiting periods and pre-filing requirements are typically more
stringent as well.
Speak with a local Arkansas divorce
lawyer to learn more about how the details of divorce laws in your state may
affect you and your family. An Arkansas divorce attorney can help
you work through the Arkansas divorce process. To connect with a divorce lawyer in your
area today, fill out the form below or give us a call at 877-349-1310.
The above synopsis of Arkansas divorce laws is by no means all-inclusive and has been adapted from applicable state laws. These laws may have changed since our last update and there may be additional laws that apply in your situation. For the latest information on these divorce laws, please contact a local divorce lawyer in your area.
