Filing for divorce in Conway means working through the Faulkner County Circuit Court, which sits at the heart of Arkansas's 20th Judicial Circuit alongside Searcy and Van Buren counties. Conway is the county seat, so residents do not travel far: the Circuit Clerk's office is at 724 Locust Ave., a few blocks from the historic courthouse square downtown. Faulkner County, home to roughly 135,000 people in 2026, processes the bulk of its domestic relations cases here, and knowing the local logistics saves time and money.
This page explains where Conway residents physically file, what it costs, how long it takes, and the Arkansas statutes that govern grounds, property, and custody. Every figure below was verified against Faulkner County and Arkansas court sources in 2026.
Conway Divorce Filing: Key Facts
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| County | Faulkner County (20th Judicial Circuit) |
| Filing court | Faulkner County Circuit Court; papers filed with the Circuit Clerk |
| Court address | Circuit Clerk: 724 Locust Ave., Conway, AR 72034 (courthouse: 801 Locust St.) |
| Filing fee | $165 paper; about $185 electronic (March 2026) |
| Residency requirement | 60 days before filing; 3 months before final decree |
| Waiting period | 30 days, mandatory and non-waivable (Ark. Code Ann. § 9-12-307) |
| Property model | Equitable distribution, 50/50 presumption (Ark. Code Ann. § 9-12-315) |
How do I file for divorce in Conway, Arkansas?
To file for divorce in Conway, you submit a Complaint for Divorce to the Faulkner County Circuit Clerk at 724 Locust Ave. and pay the $165 filing fee (about $185 for electronic filing as of March 2026). You must state a statutory ground under Ark. Code Ann. § 9-12-301, attach a Resident Witness Affidavit proving physical presence, and serve your spouse. The case proceeds in the 20th Judicial Circuit.
Arkansas is a fault-friendly but practically no-fault-driven state. Most Conway filings use the 18-month separation ground under Ark. Code Ann. § 9-12-301(b)(5), under which the court shall grant an absolute decree when spouses have lived apart 18 continuous months without cohabitation. Fault grounds such as general indignities or cruel treatment remain available. After filing, the Circuit Clerk assigns a case number and the matter is docketed in Faulkner County Circuit Court.
Where do I file for divorce in Conway? (which courthouse)
Conway residents file divorce papers with the Faulkner County Circuit Clerk at 724 Locust Ave., Conway, AR 72034, open 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. The Circuit Court itself handles domestic relations matters as part of the 20th Judicial Circuit. Mail filings go to PO Box 9, Conway, AR 72033. The clerk's phone is 501-450-4911.
Do not confuse the offices. The Faulkner County Circuit Clerk (724 Locust Ave.) handles divorce, civil, and real-estate records. The separate County Clerk at 801 Locust Ave. manages probate and quorum-court matters, not divorces. The District Court on the city side hears misdemeanors and small claims, not divorce. For a contested case requiring a hearing, you appear before a circuit judge; uncontested matters are often resolved on submitted paperwork.
How much does a divorce lawyer cost in Conway?
A Conway divorce lawyer typically costs $250 to $400 per hour, with an upfront retainer of $2,500 to $5,000 for a contested case. An uncontested divorce handled flat-fee usually runs $1,000 to $2,500 in legal fees, plus the $165 court filing fee. Contested divorces involving custody, business assets, or property disputes commonly reach $7,500 to $15,000 or more.
Several factors drive the total. An uncontested case where both spouses agree on property, support, and parenting is the cheapest path. Contested issues, especially custody disputes under Arkansas's joint-custody presumption, add hearings and discovery that raise the bill. If you cannot afford the $165 filing fee, you may request a fee waiver by filing an Application to Proceed In Forma Pauperis with a financial affidavit; the court can waive the fee for qualifying low-income filers. Legal Aid of Arkansas also serves Faulkner County residents who meet income guidelines.
How long does a divorce take in Conway?
An uncontested divorce in Conway generally takes 45 to 90 days from filing to final decree. Arkansas imposes a mandatory 30-day waiting period under Ark. Code Ann. § 9-12-307 that cannot be waived, even in emergencies. Contested cases involving custody or property disputes typically take 6 to 12 months, depending on the Faulkner County Circuit Court docket and the complexity of the issues.
The timing rules can stack. Because the court cannot enter a decree until the filing spouse has maintained three months of actual Arkansas residence, a person who files on day 60 of residency must still wait until day 90 before finalizing. That residency floor can extend a case beyond the 30-day cooling-off period. Settling early, completing financial disclosures promptly, and reaching agreement on custody and property are the most reliable ways to keep a Conway divorce on the faster end.
What are the residency requirements to file in Faulkner County?
To file for divorce in Faulkner County, one spouse must have lived in Arkansas for 60 days before filing the Complaint, and one spouse must maintain actual Arkansas residence for three full months before the court enters a final decree. Arkansas defines residence as physical presence, not mere intent, so the filing spouse must prove presence through a Resident Witness Affidavit.
You file in the county where the plaintiff resides, which for Conway residents is Faulkner County. If the filing spouse is not an Arkansas resident but the other spouse lives in Faulkner County, the case may be filed where the defendant resides. The Resident Witness Affidavit, signed by a third party who can confirm your physical presence, is a standard requirement that distinguishes Arkansas from states that accept domicile alone.
How is property divided in an Arkansas divorce?
Arkansas divides marital property by equitable distribution under Ark. Code Ann. § 9-12-315, which presumes a 50/50 split of all marital property unless an equal division would be inequitable. Marital property is everything acquired during the marriage except gifts, inheritances, and property owned before marriage. A judge who departs from an equal split must state the reasons in the record.
When weighing an unequal division, the court considers statutory factors including the length of the marriage; each spouse's age, health, and station in life; income and earning capacity; contributions to acquiring or preserving property, including homemaker services; and the federal tax consequences of the division. Separate property generally stays with its owner, though a judge may include it if excluding it would be unfair after applying the factors.
How does child custody work in Conway divorces?
Arkansas courts decide custody under Ark. Code Ann. § 9-13-101 using the best-interest-of-the-child standard. Since Act 604 took effect in 2021, there is a rebuttable presumption that joint custody serves the child's best interest in original custody determinations. The court awards custody without regard to the parents' sexes and may consider a mature child's preference.
The joint-custody presumption can be rebutted by clear and convincing evidence that joint custody is not in the child's best interest, by a parental agreement on all custody issues, or where a party does not request sole, primary, or joint custody. Where a parent has committed domestic violence, the judge must weigh that conduct against the child's best interest. Custody orders can later be modified on a material change in circumstances. Use the child support calculator to estimate obligations under Arkansas guidelines.