how much does a divorce lawyer cost in arkansas?

by Dr. Carole Effertz IV 7 min read

Full Answer

How much does it cost to get divorce in Arkansas?

How much does a divorce in Arkansas cost? Typical filing fees for a divorce in Arkansas are around $165, but these fees may vary from county to county. Beyond the filing fee, there are many factors that affect how much your divorce will cost. In general, the more issues you and your spouse can agree on, the less expensive your divorce will be.

How soon can you get remarried after divorce in Arkansas?

The grounds for divorce in Arkansas are the following:

  • Impotence;
  • The other spouse was convicted of a felony;
  • Habitual drunkenness;
  • Cruel and barbarous treatment;
  • Adultery;
  • General indignities;
  • Lived separate and apart for eighteen 18 continuous months;
  • Lived separate and apart for three years due to spouse’s incurable insanity and the spouse has been committed to a mental health facility;

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How much does it cost to file bankruptcy in Arkansas?

How much does it cost to file bankruptcy in Arkansas? If you leave out one piece of information, possibly by accident, your trustee and the court may wonder if you are leaving out any other information, and thus intensify their review of your case. The court fee for a Chapter 7 bankruptcy in Arkansas is $338.

How to reduce the cost of a divorce?

How To Reduce The Cost Of Your Divorce

  • Uncontested divorce. One of the best ways to reduce litigation costs is to do an uncontested divorce. ...
  • Be honest with your attorney. ...
  • Make good use of your attorney’s time. ...
  • Let your attorney draft the settlement agreement. ...
  • Control your emotions. ...

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How long do you have to be separated to get a divorce in Arkansas?

18 monthsHow long do you have to be separated before you can get divorced in Arkansas? You must live separately from your spouse for 18 months in order to be granted a divorce in Arkansas.

Is Arkansas A 50/50 divorce state?

Arkansas is an equitable distribution states. This means that all assets acquired during a marriage will be divided in a fair and equitable manner, but not necessarily 50/50. Courts will consider several factors in determining how to equitably divide property.

What is the cheapest way to get a divorce in Arkansas?

A do-it-yourself (DIY) divorce will be the cheapest route to ending your marriage, but it will take some time and attention to detail to make sure you have all the right forms, fill them out correctly, and follow all of the steps and requirements for divorce in Arkansas.

What do you need to get a divorce in Arkansas?

While divorce laws vary by state, here are the basic steps:First, you must meet the residency requirements of the state in which you wish to file.Second, you must have “grounds” (a legally acceptable reason) to end your marriage.Third, you must file divorce papers and have copies sent to your spouse.More items...

Who gets the house in Arkansas divorce?

In Arkansas, all marital property is distributed one-half (1/2) to each party unless the Court finds such a division to be inequitable.

Can a divorce be denied?

Thus, the courts can deny you a divorce if the judge is convinced you haven't sorted all your kid's custody issues. Not proving at-fault divorce – If you stated fault-based grounds for divorce, such as adultery, and you failed to sufficiently support these claims with evidence, the court can deny your divorce.

Can I get divorced without a lawyer?

Yes, it is possible to file your own divorce and complete the process without the aid of an attorney.

Is adultery illegal in Arkansas?

Adultery as a grounds Adultery is the act of cheating on a spouse during any point in the marriage. It is a physical act, not an emotional one under Arkansas law. When citing it as a reason for the divorce, the party alleging the misconduct may ask the court to favor him or her during various stages of the process.

What does irreconcilable differences mean in a divorce?

Citing irreconcilable differences means that the end of the marriage was not the fault of one party or a specific reason. Instead, it means that the marriage no longer works and is beyond repair. This is the route many couples choose because, for the most part, a no-fault cannot be contested.

How long do you have to be separated before divorce is automatic?

Most state courts will automatically enter a divorce decree if the parties have been legally separated for a period of time, often one to two years, and meet the basic eligibility requirements.

How long after a divorce can you remarry in Arkansas?

Divorce on the Grounds of AdulteryStatePost-Divorce Remarriage Waiting PeriodAlabama60 days to third person; none if to same personAlaskaNoneArizonaNoneArkansasNone47 more rows

Can you get a divorce without the other person signing the papers?

Overview: It is not necessary that both the spouses have to agree to file for a divorce. One of them may file for a divorce without the others' consent if they are sure that they have strong grounds for breakdown of the marriage.

How Much Does a Divorce Cost in Arkansas?

To end your marriage at the lowest cost, it is advisable to collect the needed docs and submit them with a court-house by following the instructions given by any specific service provider. However, this works well only in the case when you two aren’t ranged against any of the terms and can hammer out a compromise with ease.

How the Cost of Divorce in Arkansas Vary

How much does it cost to file for divorce in Arkansas? – you are asking. In fact, the cost to file for divorce in Arkansas will depend on a county. Nevertheless, it generally amounts for something like $300. Usually, this amount of money is made up of smaller fees, and a filing fee is one of them.

How much does it cost to file a divorce complaint in Arkansas?

The amount of the filing fee may vary from county to county. For example, in Pulaski County, Arkansas, the filing fee is $185.00. However, in Dallas County, Arkansas, it is $165.00. Once your complaint for divorce is filed, it will be time to serve your spouse the documents.

Why is it so hard to put a price on divorce?

This is due to possible issues that may have to be brought before the court such as, custody, visitation, division of property, discovery, etc.

How much does a process server cost?

A process server is a privately owned company, and their fee for service will vary. It may range from $50.00 to $100.00. It will depend on variables such as time, distance, location, etc. This is also a fee that is charged to your attorney, which means that you will likely see it on your monthly bill.

Where to file a complaint for divorce?

If you are the spouse initiating the divorce your attorney will draft up the complaint based on your reasons for wanting a divorce and file with the court clerk’s office in the county that holds jurisdiction. The clerk’s office will charge your attorney a fee to have this document filed.

Does divorce cost money?

In the next version, the answer to this question is that yes a divorce of any kind will cost money, but it will also cost emotional pain and in some cases, it will cost family dissolution.

Do you have to attend transparenting classes in Arkansas?

In most states, but more specifically in the State of Arkansas, when children are involved and either spouse files for divorce, both parties may be required to attend transparenting classes.

Do filing fees come out of retainer?

You may be thinking, “The filing fee should come out of my retainer”. However, you will learn during the consultation the retainer is for the actual work that the attorney performs on your case, such as the actual drafting of the complaint itself. The amount of the filing fee may vary from county to county.

How much does a divorce attorney cost?

The total cost of a divorce is about $15,000, but can go as high as $100,000 depending on how many issues you want a judgment on ...

How much does it cost to file for divorce?

The cost will vary from state to state, but typically it’s about $300 , which can sting, considering the circumstances.

What is more important than paying a lawyer?

Far more important than what you are paying your lawyer and the courts is hiring the right attorney. Do your research based on what you can afford, and find the right representation to protect what you have at stake.

Is divorce time consuming?

Divorces can be time-consuming and messy, and the issues in each divorce are different from one couple to the next. Because the outcome of every divorce is determined by the defendants, the attorneys, and what is at stake, it’s nearly impossible to find a standard overall cost.

Is divorce pleasant?

No one would ever describe the divorce process as being pleasant; neither would any spouses say on their wedding day they were planning on divorcing down the road. But divorce happens—for at least 50 percent of all first, second, and third marriages.

How long does it take to get a Divorce In Arkansas?

Divorces are like cars – you can buy a clunker on Craigslist for barely anything or you can buy an Escalade for $70,000! It’s a silly analogy, but a true one. There is no one size fits all divorce, no matter what you wish were true and what you may think from reading blogs like this one.

Uncontested divorces

A truly uncontested divorce at the low end would be quick to do and wouldn’t involve children or real property or personal property division. This is a unicorn – very rare and I really don’t believe it exists! There is always something that complicates a divorce and that the parties need guidance about.

More complicated divorces

If there are complicating factors then a divorce could take 12-18 months. These might include custody and support complications, or large financial issues to resolve, or even small disagreements that the parties are arguing about like cats and dogs.

What is the cost of a Divorce in Arkansas?

Cost, like length, is relative to the issues we are arguing over. Can you get a divorce for just your filing fee? Absolutely! The forms are free online and you can do it. The trick is knowing what to put in all those blanks!

Leigh Law offers Flat Fees & Payment Plans instead

We developed a flat fee system handling divorces. Our services are like a buffet – we provide the service you need when you need it, for a known cost, and we don’t provide or charge you for services you don’t need or want. Our clients love our flat fees and payment plans, and we love it because our clients love it!

Call For A Free Case Evaluation

Case evaluations are completely free; our fees are flat and affordable. Call Leigh Law today at (501) 227-ROAR or Email Us to ensure that you are making wise decisions now which will last far beyond the entry of the divorce decree.

How to file for divorce in Arkansas?

To file for divorce in Arkansas, you will first need a Complaint for Divorce or a Petition. This is your document which tells the court that you want a divorce and why. It also tells the court what else you want (i.e. custody). You will also need a Summons, which tells your spouse that you have filed a legal action against him or her.

What are the grounds for divorce in Arkansas?

The grounds for divorce in Arkansas are the following: Impotence; The other spouse was convicted of a felony; Habitual drunkenness; Cruel and barbarous treatment; Adultery; General indignities; Lived separate and apart for eighteen 18 continuous months;

How long do you have to be a resident of Arkansas to file for divorce?

In order to file for a divorce in Arkansas, you must be a resident of Arkansas for at least 60 days before you file your Complaint for Divorce. You will have to continue to be a resident of Arkansas for 30 days after you file your Complaint.

How long do you have to file a complaint for divorce?

If you are served with a Complaint for Divorce, then you have 30 days to file an Answer, which is a written response to the Complaint. If you or your spouse is incarcerated when served with the Complaint for divorce, then you or your spouse has 60 days to file an Answer.

What does it mean to have a diligent attempt to serve your spouse?

Diligent attempts means that you have sent the divorce papers to the last known place your spouse was living. You will need to send the papers by cert ified mail, restricted delivery with return receipt requested or have a process server go to your spouse’s last known place of residence to attempt service.

How long does a divorce hearing last?

For the most part, the judge will expect you to go to court to finalize the divorce. A hearing as described above, is very short, lasting about 10 minutes long. If your spouse has signed the divorce decree, therefore, making this an uncontested divorce then she/he will not have to go to court either.

How long does it take to get divorced?

However, as long as you can prove fault or prove that you and your spouse have been living separate and apart for at least 18 months, then the court will grant your divorce. You will have to be prepared to put on proof of fault or 18 months of separation. You can do this through witnesses or documentary evidence.

Do all court documents ask for attorney fees?

Tradition wins over common sense sometimes, and this is a great example. All court documents will ask for attorney’s fees, even if they are not allowed or are uncommon in whatever type of case it is about.

Do you have to pay attorney fees up front?

All clients in divorces or other domestic cases will have to pay their attorney’s fees up front and should not bank on the judge ordering reimbursement by the other side.

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