Arkansas Divorce With Children: Extra Filing Requirements You Need to Know

How Children Change the Arkansas Divorce Filing Process

A divorce without children in Arkansas is relatively straightforward — file the complaint, serve your spouse, wait 30 days, finalize. Add minor children to the equation and the court layers on several mandatory requirements that extend both the paperwork and the timeline.

Arkansas circuit courts treat cases involving children as inherently more complex, triggering protections under Arkansas Code Annotated § 9-12-322 and Administrative Order No. 10. You still follow the same basic filing sequence, but three additional obligations kick in the moment you check "minor children" on your Domestic Relations Cover Sheet.

The Confidential Information Sheet

When minor children are involved, both parents must complete and file a Confidential Information Sheet alongside the complaint. This form contains the children's full legal names, dates of birth, and Social Security numbers. It's filed under seal — meaning it doesn't become part of the public record — specifically to protect the children's identities from identity theft.

The circuit clerk will reject your filing if this sheet is missing in a case involving minors. It's a one-page form, but forgetting it is one of the most common reasons pro se filers get sent back to the clerk's window.

Mandatory Parenting Classes

Under § 9-12-322, both parents must complete a minimum of two hours of court-approved parenting education before the court will enter a final decree. This applies to all cases with minor children — contested or uncontested, fault-based or no-fault.

Key details most filers miss:

• Both parents must complete the course, not just the filing party
• The course must be on the court's approved provider list (ask your county clerk or check the Arkansas judiciary website)
• Certificates of completion must be filed with the circuit clerk before finalization
• Most approved courses cost $25–$60 per person and are available online
• Failure to file certificates will hold up your final decree indefinitely

The timeline impact is real. If your spouse delays completing their course, your otherwise-ready case sits in limbo. Build this into your timeline planning — don't wait until the 30-day period expires to start the course.

Child Support Worksheets Under Administrative Order No. 10

Arkansas uses the Income Shares Model for calculating child support obligations. When minor children are involved, you must prepare and file a Child Support Worksheet with your final paperwork — and in many counties, a preliminary worksheet accompanies the complaint itself.

Administrative Order No. 10 standardizes the calculation. Both parents' gross monthly incomes are combined, a schedule sets the total child support obligation based on the number of children, and each parent's share is proportional to their income percentage.

You'll need:

• Both parents' gross monthly income documentation (pay stubs, tax returns, self-employment records)
• Childcare costs and who pays them
• Health insurance premium costs for the children
• The proposed custody schedule (overnight counts affect the calculation for shared custody arrangements)

The worksheet isn't optional — the judge cannot approve your decree without a completed calculation, even if both parents agree on a different amount. Any deviation from the guidelines requires written findings explaining why the calculated amount is unjust.

The Affidavit of Financial Means

This requirement technically applies to all divorces, but it becomes significantly more detailed with children involved. Under Administrative Order No. 10, both parties must exchange completed Affidavits of Financial Means disclosing all income, assets, debts, and monthly expenses. With children, you'll also need to document:

• Current childcare expenses
• Medical and dental insurance costs for children
• Extracurricular activity costs
• Educational expenses
• Any special needs costs

These affidavits must be exchanged between the parties (not just filed with the court), giving each side the financial picture needed to calculate accurate child support.

Custody Arrangements in the Settlement Agreement

If your divorce is uncontested, your Marital Settlement Agreement must address custody and visitation in specific detail. Arkansas courts require:

• A designation of legal custody (joint or sole)
• A physical custody schedule specifying which parent has the children on which days
• A holiday and summer vacation rotation
• Transportation arrangements for exchanges
• Decision-making authority for medical, educational, and religious matters

Vague language like "reasonable visitation" is increasingly rejected by Arkansas circuit judges. The more specific your parenting plan, the faster your decree gets signed.

Timeline Impact

A straightforward uncontested divorce without children can finalize in 30–45 days. With children, expect 60–90 days because of the parenting class completion requirement and the additional paperwork exchange. If either parent drags their feet on the parenting course or financial disclosures, the delay compounds.

Putting It Together

The Arkansas Divorce Filing Process Guide walks you through the complete sequence for cases with and without children — including fill-in-the-blank child support worksheets, a parenting class provider checklist, and the exact documents your county clerk expects to see before accepting your filing.

See more Arkansas guides →