How to File for Divorce in Arkansas
How to file for divorce in Arkansas: the residency rule, filing fee and fee waivers, uncontested options and how long it takes.
Short answer: Either spouse must have lived in Arkansas for 60 days before the divorce case is filed, and for three full months before the final decree is granted. Ark. Code Ann. § 9-12-307(a)(1)
| Residency requirement | Either spouse must have lived in Arkansas for 60 days before the divorce case is filed, and for three full months before the final decree is granted. If the other spouse cannot be personally served or does not appear, the filing spouse must have actually lived in Arkansas for at least three full months before the decree. Arkansas Code text read on a public code mirror (FindLaw, current as of March 28, 2024), because the official Arkansas Code is published through LexisNexis. Source: Ark. Code Ann. § 9-12-307(a)(1) |
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| Filing fee | Arkansas sets a uniform circuit court filing fee of $150 to start a case, and $50 to reopen a case with the same parties and issues. No fee is charged when the court allows an indigent person to proceed in forma pauperis under Rule 72 of the Arkansas Rules of Civil Procedure. Read on a public code mirror (FindLaw, current as of March 28, 2024). Other statutory charges may apply to divorce filings; confirm the total with the circuit clerk. Source: Ark. Code Ann. § 21-6-403 |
| Waiting period | No divorce decree can be granted until at least 30 days after the complaint is filed. Read on a public code mirror (FindLaw, current as of March 28, 2024). |
| Divorce forms | The Arkansas Judiciary's Court Forms page posts the statewide forms required in domestic relations cases, including the Domestic Relations Cover Sheet and Disposition Sheet, the Affidavit of Financial Means, the Monthly Family Support Chart, the Child Support Worksheet and the Income Withholding for Support form. The judiciary also offers eFiling (efile.arcourts.gov) and an online child support calculator. For free self-help divorce forms, the judiciary's resource page points to Arkansas Law Help (arlawhelp.org), run by the Arkansas Legal Services Partnership. Self-help resources: https://arcourts.gov/directories/resources Source: Arkansas Judiciary, Court Forms |
Where to get help in Arkansas
More Arkansas divorce & family law
- Getting a Marriage License in Arkansas
- Adopting a Child in Arkansas
- Guardianship of a Child or Adult in Arkansas
- Establishing Paternity in Arkansas
- Changing Your Name in Arkansas
- Child Custody Laws in Arkansas
- How Child Support Is Calculated in Arkansas
- Divorce Records in Arkansas
- Alimony and Spousal Support in Arkansas
- Legal Separation and Annulment in Arkansas
- All Arkansas divorce & family law rules
FAQ
How long do you have to live in Arkansas to file for divorce?
Either spouse must have lived in Arkansas for 60 days before the divorce case is filed, and for three full months before the final decree is granted. If the other spouse cannot be personally served or does not appear, the filing spouse must have actually lived in Arkansas for at least three full months before the decree.
How much does it cost to file for divorce in Arkansas?
Arkansas sets a uniform circuit court filing fee of $150 to start a case, and $50 to reopen a case with the same parties and issues. No fee is charged when the court allows an indigent person to proceed in forma pauperis under Rule 72 of the Arkansas Rules of Civil Procedure.
Is there a waiting period for divorce in Arkansas?
No divorce decree can be granted until at least 30 days after the complaint is filed.
Where can I get divorce papers and forms in Arkansas?
The Arkansas Judiciary's Court Forms page posts the statewide forms required in domestic relations cases, including the Domestic Relations Cover Sheet and Disposition Sheet, the Affidavit of Financial Means, the Monthly Family Support Chart, the Child Support Worksheet and the Income Withholding for Support form. The judiciary also offers eFiling (efile.arcourts.gov) and an online child support calculator. For free self-help divorce forms, the judiciary's resource page points to Arkansas Law Help (arlawhelp.org), run by the Arkansas Legal Services Partnership.
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.