Arkansas Divorce Checklist
divorce.law/resources/divorce-checklist/arkansas/
Prepared: 5/21/2026
Data updated: 3/1/2026
Estimated Timeline
3-6 months for uncontested divorces in Arkansas (30-day mandatory waiting period plus 3-month residency requirement); 12-24 months for contested cases involving trial, discovery, and mediation. Divorce by affidavit in uncontested cases can finalize as early as 90 days after filing if residency is already established.
Documents to Gather
- Certified Copy of Marriage Certificate
- Birth Certificates for Minor Children
- Social Security Cards
- Arkansas Driver's License or State ID
- Proof of Residency (60+ days)
- Prenuptial or Postnuptial Agreement(if applicable)
- Order of Protection(if applicable)
Financial Documents
- Last 3 Years of Federal and State Tax Returns
- Last 3 Pay Stubs
- Bank Statements (All Accounts, Last 12 Months)
- Retirement and Investment Account Statements
- Real Estate Documents
- Vehicle Titles and Loan Statements
- Debt Documentation
- Insurance Policies
- Business Financial Records(if applicable)
- Child Support Worksheet
Key Steps
1. Before Filing
- Verify Residency Requirements
- Determine Grounds for Divorce
- Gather Essential Personal and Financial Documents
- Negotiate a Marital Settlement Agreement (If Uncontested)
- Create a Safety Plan If Domestic Violence Is a Factor
2. Filing Process
- Prepare the Complaint for Divorce and Required Forms
- File the Complaint with the Circuit Court Clerk
- Prepare the Affidavit of Financial Means
3. After Filing
- Serve Your Spouse with the Divorce Papers
- Wait for Respondent's Answer or Default Period
- Complete Parenting Education Course (If Minor Children Involved)
- Participate in Mediation (If Ordered by the Court)
- Participate in Discovery (Contested Cases)
- Attend the Final Hearing or Submit Divorce by Affidavit
- File the Final Decree and Complete Post-Decree Tasks
Key Deadlines
Quick Reference
To file for divorce in Arkansas, you must first establish 60 days of residency under Ark. Code Ann. § 9-12-307 and identify legal grounds—either 18 months of separation (no-fault) or fault-based grounds such as general indignities. File a Complaint for Divorce with the Domestic Relations Cover Sheet and $165 filing fee at your county Circuit Court. Serve your spouse within 120 days; they have 30 days to file an Answer. The court imposes a mandatory 30-day waiting period after filing, and no decree can be entered until one spouse has 3 full months of Arkansas residency. If you have minor children, complete a Confidential Information Sheet, Child Support Worksheet per Administrative Order No. 10, and potentially a court-ordered parenting education course under Ark. Code Ann. § 9-12-322. Both parties must exchange an Affidavit of Financial Means at least 3 days before hearings on financial matters. Uncontested divorces may qualify for finalization by affidavit without a court hearing. Contested cases proceed through discovery, possible mediation under Ark. Code Ann. § 16-7-202, and trial. Fee waivers are available for those who qualify financially.