Hiring a Bankruptcy Lawyer in Arkansas
How bankruptcy lawyers are paid, the Arkansas means test and exemptions, how to check a lawyer's license, and free help. We do not recommend or rank lawyers.
What a lawyer costs in Arkansas: fee rules
| If a lawyer takes your money | Arkansas has a Client Security Fund overseen by the Arkansas Supreme Court's Client Security Fund Committee, whose members are appointed by the Court; the Administrative Office of the Courts (625 Marshall Street, Little Rock; 501-682-9400) is the listed contact. |
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Arkansas rules to know first
| Means test median income | 1 person: $58,421; 2 people: $73,630; 3 people: $82,329; 4 people: $97,054; add $11,100 for each additional person over 4. These figures apply to bankruptcy cases filed on or after July 15, 2026 (the Census median income data was last updated for cases filed on or after April 1, 2026). The U.S. Trustee updates this table periodically; check https://www.justice.gov/ust/means-testing for the table in effect on the filing date. The table's one-person column is labeled "1 EARNER." Income at or below the median for the household size generally means the Chapter 7 means test's further calculations are not required. |
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| Homestead exemption | Under the state system: a rural homestead of up to 160 acres with improvements, up to $2,500 in value but never less than 80 acres regardless of value; or an urban homestead of up to 1 acre, up to $2,500 in value but never less than one-quarter acre regardless of value (Ark. Const. art. 9, §§ 4-5, as listed in the statute). The statute's bankruptcy list also includes a residence exemption of $800 (unmarried) or $1,250 (married). Read on FindLaw (codes "current as of March 28, 2024"), a mirror permitted for Arkansas; verify against the official Arkansas Code. A filer who elects the federal list uses 11 U.S.C. 522(d)(1) instead. |
| State or federal exemptions | Arkansas residents may choose either the exemptions under the Arkansas Constitution and laws, or the federal bankruptcy exemptions in 11 U.S.C. 522(d). Read on FindLaw (codes "current as of March 28, 2024"), a mirror permitted for Arkansas; verify against the official Arkansas Code. Source: Ark. Code Ann. 16-66-217 |
Find and check a lawyer
| Lawyer referral service | The Arkansas Bar Association runs ArkansasFindALawyer, an online directory you can search by name, firm, city, postal code (within a set distance) or area of practice. The bar's page does not describe it as a referral service and states no consultation fee. The bar's general line is 501-375-4606. |
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| Check that the lawyer is licensed | The Arkansas Judiciary's online Attorney Search lets you look up lawyers by last name, first name, city, ZIP code or bar number; attorney rosters are also posted. The site says its information is not the official record kept by the Clerk of the Courts and directs users to the Clerk's Office at (501) 682-6849 to verify. Rosters: https://attorneyinfo.aoc.arkansas.gov/roster |
| Check discipline history or file a complaint | Complaints about Arkansas lawyers are handled by the Office of Professional Conduct of the Arkansas Supreme Court (Administrative Office of the Courts), One Capitol Mall, Suite 3D-101, Little Rock, AR 72201-1049; phone 501-376-0313 or toll-free 800-506-6631. File using the office's grievance form (printable for mailing or fillable for emailing). Disciplinary decisions are posted online, and paper copies are available from the Clerk of the Courts at $0.50 per page. |
Free legal help
| Free legal aid | Legal Aid of Arkansas is the LSC-funded legal aid organization for Arkansas and provides free civil legal help to eligible low-income people. The Arkansas Bar Association also points people to Arkansas Access to Justice (arkansasjustice.org), Arkansas Free Legal Answers (ar.freelegalanswers.org) and Arkansas Law Help (arlawhelp.org) for free legal information and help. Bar legal assistance page: https://www.arkbar.com/?pg=LegalAssistance |
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All legal help in Arkansas · Do I need a lawyer?
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.