Arkansas · Uncontested divorce · Updated Oct 2026

Uncontested divorce in Arkansas

For spouses in Arkansas who agree on everything: how agreed cases are handled, the residency rule, the waiting period, the official forms, the fee waiver and mediation.

In short

For agreed cases in Arkansas: No special court procedure, but an uncontested divorce can be finished on affidavits (your 'deposition' plus a witness's) without a contested hearing.

Who can file (residency)
60 days (with exceptions)
Waiting period
30 days after filing
Filing fee
Check with your court

How agreed divorces are handled in Arkansas

  • No special court procedure, but an uncontested divorce can be finished on affidavits (your 'deposition' plus a witness's) without a contested hearing.
  • Legal Aid of Arkansas has a free packet for couples with no minor children and no valuable property who have lived in Arkansas 60 days.

Before you file in Arkansas

Who can file (residency)
You or your spouse must have lived in Arkansas for at least 60 days before you file. You must prove residency (and your grounds) with your own testimony plus a witness, even if your spouse agrees.
Waiting period
You must wait at least 30 days after filing the complaint before the divorce can be granted. If you use the separation ground, you must first have lived apart 18 months in a row.
Law
Ark. Code 9-12-307; Legal Aid of Arkansas (Arkansas Law Help) · Ark. Code 9-12-307; Legal Aid of Arkansas (Arkansas Law Help)

Forms, fees and filing in Arkansas

Official forms
Divorce forms (Arkansas courts)
Court self-help
Divorce self-help (Arkansas courts)
If you can't afford the fee
Ask to file without paying using the In Forma Pauperis Affidavit (Ark. R. Civ. P. 72), on the Arkansas Judiciary court forms page: https://www.arcourts.gov/forms-and-publications/court-forms

If you agree on only some issues

Not required statewide; judges may order mediation in custody or property disputes.

An uncontested divorce in Arkansas, step by step

  1. Check that you can file in Arkansas

    You or your spouse must have lived in Arkansas for at least 60 days before you file.

  2. Check how agreed cases are finished

    No special court procedure, but an uncontested divorce can be finished on affidavits (your 'deposition' plus a witness's) without a contested hearing.

  3. Fill in the official forms

    Use the court's official divorce forms: Divorce forms (Arkansas courts)

  4. File, and pay the fee or ask for a waiver

    Can't afford it? Ask to file without paying using the In Forma Pauperis Affidavit (Ark. R. Civ. P. 72), on the Arkansas Judiciary court forms page: https://www.arcourts.gov/forms-and-publications/court-forms.

  5. Have your spouse sign or be served

    Your spouse must be formally served with the complaint and summons (sheriff, process server, or restricted-delivery certified mail), or can sign paperwork agreeing to proceed without formal service.

  6. Wait out the waiting period

    You must wait at least 30 days after filing the complaint before the divorce can be granted.

  7. Get the final decree

    The judge signs the final decree (judgment), which ends the marriage. Get a certified copy and keep it.

Questions about uncontested divorce in Arkansas

Is there a simplified divorce for agreed cases in Arkansas?

No special court procedure, but an uncontested divorce can be finished on affidavits (your 'deposition' plus a witness's) without a contested hearing. Legal Aid of Arkansas has a free packet for couples with no minor children and no valuable property who have lived in Arkansas 60 days.

How long does an uncontested divorce take in Arkansas?

You must wait at least 30 days after filing the complaint before the divorce can be granted. If you use the separation ground, you must first have lived apart 18 months in a row.

Who can file for an uncontested divorce in Arkansas?

You or your spouse must have lived in Arkansas for at least 60 days before you file. You must prove residency (and your grounds) with your own testimony plus a witness, even if your spouse agrees.

Is mediation required in Arkansas?

Not required statewide; judges may order mediation in custody or property disputes.

More about divorce in Arkansas

Uncontested divorce in nearby states

Sources

Last checked: Oct 24, 2026.