Title 9 — Family Law

The purpose of this chapter is to provide an adequate mechanism whereby the State of Arkansas can protect the general health, welfare, and safety of its citizens by intervening when abuse of a member of a household by another member of a household occurs or is threatened to occur…

This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the “Domestic Abuse Act of 1991”.

(1) As used in this chapter:(1) “Commercial mobile radio service” means commercial mobile service as defined in 47 U.S.C. § 332;(2) “County where the petitioner resides” means the county in which the petitioner physically resides at the time the petition is filed and may include …

(a) All petitions under this chapter shall be verified. (b) The petition shall be filed in the county where the petitioner resides, where the alleged incident of abuse occurred, or where the respondent may be served. (c) (1) A petition for relief under this chapter may be filed i…

(a) (1) The court, clerks of the court, and law enforcement agencies shall not require any initial filing fees or service costs.(2) A claim or counterclaim for other relief, including without limitation divorce, annulment, separate maintenance, or paternity shall not be asserted …

(a) The circuit clerk shall provide simplified forms and clerical assistance to help petitioners with the writing and filing of a petition under this chapter if the petitioner is not represented by counsel. (b) The petition form shall not require or suggest that a petitioner incl…

(a) (1) When a petition for an order of protection is filed pursuant to this chapter, the court shall order a hearing to be held on the petition for the order of protection not later than thirty (30) days from the date on which the petition for an order of protection is filed or …

(a) At the hearing on the petition filed under this chapter, upon a finding of domestic abuse as defined in § 9-15-103, the court may provide the following relief:(1) Exclude the abusing party from the dwelling that the parties share or from the residence of the petitioner or vic…

(a) When a petition for an order of protection under this chapter alleges an immediate and present danger of domestic abuse or that the respondent is scheduled to be released from incarceration within thirty (30) days and upon the respondent's release there will be an immediate a…

(a) Any order of protection granted under this chapter is enforceable by a law enforcement agency with proper jurisdiction. (b) An order of protection shall include a notice to the respondent or party restrained that:(1) A violation of the order of protection is a Class A misdeme…

(a) When an order of protection is issued under this chapter, upon request of the petitioner the circuit court may order a law enforcement officer with jurisdiction to accompany the petitioner and assist in placing the petitioner in possession of the dwelling or residence or to o…

Any order of protection issued by the circuit court pursuant to a petition filed as authorized in this chapter may be modified upon application of either party, notice to all parties, and a hearing thereon.

When a petitioner or any law enforcement officer files an affidavit with a circuit court that has issued an order of protection under the provisions of this chapter alleging that the respondent or person restrained has violated the order, the court may issue an order to the respo…

A.C.A. § 9-15-211Current through all legislation of the 2025 Regular Session.Arkansas Code of 1987 Annotated Official EditionCopyright © 2026 by the State of Arkansas All rights reserved

A no contact order shall prohibit the person from making contact, directly or through an agent, except under such conditions as may be provided in the order.

All law enforcement officers shall follow the same procedures as outlined in § 16-90-1107.

The circuit court shall not deny a petitioner relief solely because the act of domestic or family violence and the filing of the petition did not occur within one hundred twenty (120) days.

(a) In addition to other factors that a circuit court shall consider in a proceeding in which the temporary custody of a child or temporary visitation by a parent is at issue and in which the court has made a finding of domestic or family violence, the court shall consider:(1) As…

(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, a circuit court shall not grant a mutual order of protection to opposing parties. (b) Separate orders of protection restraining each opposing party may only be granted in cases in which each party:(1) Has properly filed an…

(a) (1) (A) A person who is charged with violating an ex parte order of protection under § 5-53-134 may be ordered as a condition of his or her release from custody to be placed under electronic surveillance at his or her expense until the charge is adjudicated.(B) A person who i…

(a) Commencing July 1, 2017, at an initial or subsequent hearing on a petition filed under this subchapter, to ensure that the petitioner may maintain his or her existing wireless telephone number and the wireless numbers of minor children in the petitioner's care, the court may …

(a) As used in this section:(1) (A) “Course of control” means a pattern of behavior that in purpose or effect unreasonably interferes with the free will and personal liberty of a person.(B) “Course of control” includes without limitation the following:(i) Unreasonably isolating a…

A.C.A. § 9-15-301Current through all legislation of the 2025 Regular Session.Arkansas Code of 1987 Annotated Official EditionCopyright © 2026 by the State of Arkansas All rights reserved

(a) An order of protection shall be afforded full faith and credit by the courts of this state and shall be enforced by law enforcement as if it were issued in this state if the order of protection:(1) Meets the requirements of subsection (b) or subsection (c) of this section and…

(a) Law enforcement officers and law enforcement agencies shall be immune from civil or criminal liability if acting in good faith in an effort to comply with this subchapter. (b) A military order of protection as defined under § 5-53-134(f)(1) shall be enforced by law enforcemen…

This subchapter shall be known and may be cited as the “Spousal Abuse Safety Plan Act”.

(a) The General Assembly finds that:(1) There are many resources to support victims of domestic abuse after the abuse has occurred. However, the issues of how to prevent spousal abuse and the possible solution of creating a safety plan for the spouse and the children in the house…

(1) As used in this subchapter:(1) “Emotional abuse” means any of the following acts:(A) Verbally attacking or threatening a spouse by yelling, screaming, or name-calling;(B) Using criticism, social isolation, intimidation, or exploitation to dominate a spouse;(C) Criminally hara…

(1) The purpose of this subchapter is to:(1) Develop increased and improved security measures that provide greater protection for victims of spousal abuse, especially those who have orders of protection;(2) Help victims create a safety plan to keep them and their children as safe…

(a) The Arkansas Child Abuse/Rape/Domestic Violence Commission, in consultation with experts on spousal abuse prevention and intervention, shall develop educational material and training material to address the issues under this subchapter. (b) The educational material and traini…

The Arkansas Child Abuse/Rape/Domestic Violence Commission shall promulgate rules to implement and administer this subchapter.

(1) The Arkansas Child Abuse/Rape/Domestic Violence Commission shall report annually to the House Committee on Aging, Children and Youth, Legislative and Military Affairs and the Senate Interim Committee on Children and Youth regarding:(1) The status of the implementation and adm…