Little Rock divorce cases run through the Sixth Judicial Circuit, which sits in the Pulaski County Courthouse complex in the heart of downtown. Whether you hire a Little Rock divorce lawyer or file on your own, every case starts the same way: a Complaint for Divorce filed with the Pulaski County Circuit Clerk at 401 West Markham Street, just blocks from the State Capitol and the Arkansas River Market District. This page walks through where residents physically file, what it costs in 2026, how long it takes, and the Arkansas statutes that govern property, custody, and support.
Key Facts: Divorcing in Little Rock (Pulaski County)
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| County | Pulaski County |
| Filing court | Pulaski County Circuit Court, Sixth Judicial Circuit |
| Court address | 401 West Markham Street, Suite 100, Little Rock, AR 72201 |
| Filing fee (2026) | $165 in person; ~$185 e-filed |
| Residency requirement | 60 days before filing; 3 months before decree |
| Waiting period | 30 days minimum after filing |
| Property model | Equitable distribution (50/50 presumption) |
How do I file for divorce in Little Rock, Arkansas?
To file for divorce in Little Rock, you submit a Complaint for Divorce to the Pulaski County Circuit Clerk at 401 West Markham Street and pay the $165 filing fee, verified current as of January 2026. You must state a recognized ground under Ark. Code Ann. § 9-12-301, prove 60 days of residency, and arrange service on your spouse.
Most Little Rock filers use the no-fault ground, which requires living separate and apart for 18 continuous months without cohabitation under § 9-12-301(b)(5). Fault grounds such as general indignities or adultery carry no separation period but require proof. Arkansas also has a corroboration rule unusual among states: under § 9-12-307, a third-party witness over 18 must sign a Resident Witness Affidavit confirming your physical presence in Arkansas. Pro se filers who cannot use the electronic system submit paper documents in Room 120 of the Pulaski County Circuit Clerk's office.
Where do I file for divorce in Little Rock? (which courthouse)
Little Rock divorce paperwork is filed with the Pulaski County Circuit Clerk inside the Pulaski County Courthouse at 401 West Markham Street, Suite 100, Little Rock, AR 72201, phone (501) 340-8500. The clerk's office is open during regular business hours and accepts cash, check, money order, or credit card.
The courthouse occupies a historic two-building complex in downtown Little Rock; the original structure was completed in 1889 and an addition finished in 1914. Circuit and County Clerk Terri Hollingsworth oversees domestic relations records for the Sixth Judicial District. Do not confuse filing with obtaining a certified copy of a finished decree: certified divorce certificates come from the Arkansas Department of Health Vital Records at 4815 West Markham Street, Slot 44, Little Rock, AR 72205, a separate office about four miles west of the courthouse. For Little Rock residents in the western suburbs near Chenal or in River Market downtown, the Circuit Clerk at 401 West Markham is the single filing point for all Pulaski County divorces.
How much does a divorce lawyer cost in Little Rock?
A Little Rock divorce lawyer typically charges $200 to $350 per hour, with most attorneys requesting a retainer of $2,500 to $5,000 for a contested case. An uncontested divorce handled by an attorney often runs a flat fee of roughly $1,500 to $3,500, while a fully self-represented pro se case can cost as little as $165 to $350 total.
The $165 court filing fee under § 21-6-403 is only the entry cost. Budget separately for service of process ($25 to $75), certified-mail service ($25 to $50), and document copies ($5 to $10). If your spouse files a counter-petition, Pulaski County adds roughly $100 to $150. Contested cases involving custody disputes, business valuations, or hidden assets push total attorney costs into five figures. To estimate your own exposure before consulting a lawyer, run the numbers through the divorce cost estimator, and use the alimony and child support calculators to preview likely support obligations.
How long does a divorce take in Little Rock?
An uncontested divorce in Little Rock takes about 30 to 90 days, controlled by the mandatory 30-day waiting period under Arkansas law plus the time to serve your spouse and schedule a final hearing. No decree can be entered until at least 30 days after filing and until one spouse has completed three full months of Arkansas residency.
These two timelines often overlap. A spouse who has lived in Arkansas for only the minimum 60 days before filing must wait roughly another 30 days to reach the three-month residency mark, which lines up with the 30-day waiting period. Contested Little Rock cases, particularly those with custody or property fights, commonly take 8 to 18 months as they move through discovery, mediation, and trial settings on the Sixth Judicial Circuit's domestic relations docket. No-fault filings carry the additional 18-month separation requirement before you can even file, which lengthens the practical timeline for couples choosing that path.
What are the residency requirements to file in Pulaski County?
To file for divorce in Pulaski County, either you or your spouse must have been an actual resident of Arkansas for at least 60 days immediately before filing the Complaint, under § 9-12-307. Before the judge can sign the final decree, at least one spouse must have lived in Arkansas for three full months.
Arkansas defines residence by physical presence rather than intent, which is unusual. Under § 9-12-307, actual presence in the state establishes domicile as a matter of legislative policy. You prove residency through your own testimony plus a corroborating witness who signs the Resident Witness Affidavit. There is no separate Little Rock or Pulaski County residency rule beyond the statewide 60-day floor, so a person who moved to Little Rock from another state two months ago and physically lived here can satisfy the filing threshold, though the three-month rule still gates the final decree.
How is property divided in a Little Rock divorce?
Arkansas courts, including the Pulaski County Circuit Court, divide marital property under § 9-12-315, which presumes a 50/50 split of all property acquired during the marriage. A judge may order an unequal division only after weighing nine statutory factors and stating the reasons in writing.
Those factors include the length of the marriage, each spouse's age and health, income and vocational skills, contributions including homemaking, and federal tax consequences. Property acquired by gift or inheritance, or acquired before the marriage, stays separate under § 9-12-315(b) and returns to the original owner. A common Little Rock pitfall: separate property commingled into a joint account, such as an inheritance deposited into a shared bank account, can lose its protected status and become divisible. Because the equal-division presumption is the starting point, the contested fights in Pulaski County usually center on characterization (marital versus separate) rather than the basic split.
How does child custody work in a Little Rock divorce?
Pulaski County judges decide custody under the best-interest standard in § 9-13-101, made without regard to a parent's sex. Since 2021, Arkansas applies a rebuttable presumption that joint custody, meaning an approximately equal division of time, serves the child's best interest in an original determination.
That presumption can be rebutted by clear and convincing evidence, by the parties' agreement on custody, or where one party does not request custody. The court may also consider a child's preference if the child has sufficient age and reasoning capacity. Domestic violence carries serious weight: a proven pattern of abuse triggers a rebuttable presumption against placing the child with the abusive parent under § 9-13-101. Arkansas uses the terms custody and visitation rather than parenting time, and Little Rock parents finalizing arrangements should prepare a parenting plan addressing decision-making and a holiday schedule.