Title 9 — Family Law
32 chapters · 940 sections in this title.
Ark. Code Ann. § 9-9-225 Voluntary post-adoption contact agreement
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(a) In an adoption proceeding concerning a minor who is not in the custody of the Department of Human Services, a prospective adoptive parent may voluntarily enter into a written agreement with a birth parent of the minor concerning post-adoption exchange of information, communic…
Ark. Code Ann. § 9-9-301 Adoptions under prior law validated
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All adoptions that have been granted by the probate courts of this state under authority of Acts 1947, No. 369, § 7 [repealed], when the guardian appointed was appointed under the guardianship procedures outlined under Acts 1911, No. 215, § 12 [repealed] and Acts 1947, No. 369, §…
Ark. Code Ann. § 9-9-302 [Repealed.]
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A.C.A. § 9-9-302Current through all legislation of the 2025 Regular Session.Arkansas Code of 1987 Annotated Official EditionCopyright © 2026 by the State of Arkansas All rights reserved
Ark. Code Ann. § 9-9-303 [Repealed.]
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A.C.A. § 9-9-303Current through all legislation of the 2025 Regular Session.Arkansas Code of 1987 Annotated Official EditionCopyright © 2026 by the State of Arkansas All rights reserved
Ark. Code Ann. § 9-9-304 [Repealed.]
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A.C.A. § 9-9-304Current through all legislation of the 2025 Regular Session.Arkansas Code of 1987 Annotated Official EditionCopyright © 2026 by the State of Arkansas All rights reserved
Ark. Code Ann. § 9-9-401 Title
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This subchapter shall be known and may be cited as the “Arkansas Subsidized Adoption Act” and includes only state-funded adoptions.
Ark. Code Ann. § 9-9-402 Definitions
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(1) As used in this subchapter:(1) “Child” means a minor as defined by Arkansas law; and(2) “Special needs” means a child who is not likely to be adopted by reason of one (1) or more of the following conditions:(A) The child has special needs for medical or rehabilitative care;(B…
Ark. Code Ann. § 9-9-403 Purpose
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The purpose of this subchapter is to supplement the Arkansas adoption statutes by making possible through public financial subsidy the most appropriate adoption of each child certified by the Department of Human Services as requiring a subsidy to assure adoption.
Ark. Code Ann. § 9-9-404 Administration — Funding
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(a) The Department of Human Services shall establish and administer an ongoing program of subsidized adoption by persons who are determined by the department to be eligible to adopt under this subchapter. (b) Subsidies and services for children under this program shall be provide…
Ark. Code Ann. § 9-9-405 Promulgation of rules
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(a) The Department of Human Services shall adopt rules consistent with this subchapter. (b) The department shall adopt rules to ensure that post-adoptive services are provided to adoptive parents who seek the assistance of the department to prevent the adoption from being disrupt…
Ark. Code Ann. § 9-9-406 Records confidential
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All records regarding subsidized adoption shall be confidential and may be opened for inspection only under the provisions of § 9-9-217.
Ark. Code Ann. § 9-9-407 Eligibility
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(a) A family is initially eligible for a subsidy for purposes of adoption if:(1) (A) No other potential adoptive family has been identified and is willing and able to adopt the child without the use of a subsidy.(B) In the case of a child who has established significant emotional…
Ark. Code Ann. § 9-9-408 Subsidy agreement required — Commencement of subsidy
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(a) When parents are found and approved for adoption of a child certified as eligible for a subsidy and before the final decree of adoption is issued, there must be a written agreement between the family entering into the subsidized adoption and the Department of Human Services. …
Ark. Code Ann. § 9-9-409 Subsidy amounts
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(a) The amount of the subsidy may be readjusted periodically with the concurrence of the adopting parents, which may be specified in the adoption subsidy agreement, depending upon a change in circumstances. (b) The subsidy may be for special services not covered by any other avai…
Ark. Code Ann. § 9-9-410 Subsidy agreements — Duration
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(a) (1) The subsidy agreement shall be binding and constitute an obligation against the State of Arkansas until the adopted child reaches the age of eighteen (18) years or the benefits available to him or her under the subsidy agreement are provided by other state or federal prog…
Ark. Code Ann. § 9-9-411 Subsidy agreements — Renewal, termination, or modification
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(a) (1) (A) When subsidies are for more than one (1) year, the adoptive parents shall present an annual sworn certification that the adopted child remains under their care and that the condition that caused the child to be certified continues to exist.(B) An adoptive parent commi…
Ark. Code Ann. § 9-9-412 Appeals
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Any subsidy decision by the Department of Human Services which the placement agency or the adoptive parents deem adverse to the child shall be reviewable according to the provisions of § 20-76-408.
Ark. Code Ann. § 9-9-501 Definitions
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(1) As used in this subchapter:(1) “Administrator” means the person charged with maintenance and supervision of a registry and may include the administrator's agents, employees, and designees;(2) “Adoptee” means a person who has been legally adopted in this state;(3) “Adoption” m…
Ark. Code Ann. § 9-9-502 Penalty
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(a) (1) No person, agency, entity, or organization of any kind, including, but not limited to, any officer or employee of this state and any employee, officer, or judge of any court of this state shall disclose any confidential information relating to any adoption, except as prov…
Ark. Code Ann. § 9-9-503 Registry — Establishment and maintenance
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(a) (1) A mutual consent voluntary adoption registry may be established and maintained by any licensed voluntary agency involved in an adoption.(2) Persons eligible to receive identifying information shall work through the agency involved in the adoption. If that agency has merge…
Ark. Code Ann. § 9-9-504 Registry — Operation
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(a) (1) The adult adoptee and each birth parent and each individual related within the second degree whose identity is to be disclosed may voluntarily place his or her name in the appropriate registry by submitting a notarized affidavit stating his or her name, address, and telep…
Ark. Code Ann. § 9-9-505 Compilation of health history and genetic and social history
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(a) Prior to placement for adoption, the licensed adoption agency or, when an agency is not involved, the person, entity, or organization handling the adoption shall compile and provide to the prospective adoptive parents a detailed, written health history and genetic and social …
Ark. Code Ann. § 9-9-506 Disclosure of information
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(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the information acquired by any registry shall not be disclosed under any sunshine or freedom of information legislation, rules, or practice. (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person, group of persons, or entity, in…
Ark. Code Ann. § 9-9-507 Maintenance of records
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All records of any adoption finalized in this state shall be maintained for ninety-nine (99) years by the agency, entity, organization, or person arranging the adoption.
Ark. Code Ann. § 9-9-508 Rules
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The Department of Human Services shall issue such rules as are necessary for implementing this subchapter.
Ark. Code Ann. § 9-9-601 The Governor's Pro Bono Adoption Service Award
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(a) The Governor shall award the Governor's Pro Bono Adoption Service Award by proclamation in recognition of the efforts and sacrifice of those attorneys who provide adoption services on a volunteer basis. (b) Those receiving the Governor's Pro Bono Adoption Service Award shall …
Ark. Code Ann. § 9-9-701 Streamlined adoptions by the Department of Human Services
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(a) (1) A family who adopts a child from the Department of Human Services shall be eligible for the streamlined adoption process if the family chooses to adopt another child from the department and the department selects the family to be the adoptive parents of a child in the cus…
Ark. Code Ann. § 9-9-702 Fast-tracked adoption of Garrett's Law babies — Definition
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(a) As used in this section, “newborn” means an infant who is thirty (30) days of age or younger. (b) If a report of neglect under § 12-18-103(14)(B) is made to the Child Abuse Hotline, the mother has the option to place the newborn for:(1) Adoption through a licensed child place…
Ark. Code Ann. § 9-9-801 Definitions
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(1) As used in this subchapter:(1) “Adoption file” means a file maintained by the Department of Health that contains an original birth certificate and adoption decree of an adoptee;(2) “Genetic and social history” has the same meaning as provided under § 9-9-501; and(3) “Requeste…
Ark. Code Ann. § 9-9-802 Birth parent redaction request and contact preference forms
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(a) (1) (A) The Department of Health shall create and make available on its website:(i) A form that a birth parent may use to have his or her name redacted from the copy of an adoption file that a requester receives under § 9-9-803; and(ii) A form that a birth parent may use to s…
Ark. Code Ann. § 9-9-803 Access to adoption file
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(a) Beginning August 1, 2018, a requester may submit a written request for a copy of an adoption file from the Department of Health. (b) (1) A request submitted under this section shall include the requester's address and notarized signature and satisfactory proof of the requeste…
Ark. Code Ann. § 9-9-804 Immunity
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An officer or employee of the Department of Health who releases any information contained in an adoption file or provides a copy of an adoption file to a requester is not criminally liable or civilly liable in damages to any person for injury, death, or loss allegedly arising fro…
Ark. Code Ann. § 9-10-101 [Repealed.]
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A.C.A. § 9-10-101Current through all legislation of the 2025 Regular Session.Arkansas Code of 1987 Annotated Official EditionCopyright © 2026 by the State of Arkansas All rights reserved
Ark. Code Ann. § 9-10-102 Definitions — Actions governed by Arkansas Rules of Civil Procedure — Limitations periods — Venue — Summons — Transfer between local jurisdictions
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(a) As used in this section:(1) “Acknowledged father” means a man who has executed an acknowledgment of paternity as to a child under §§ 20-18-408 — 20-18-409, or a similar acknowledgment executed during the child's minority;(2) “Adjudicated father” means a man who has been found…
Ark. Code Ann. § 9-10-103 Temporary orders — Administrative orders for paternity testing
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(a) If the child is not born when the accused appears before the circuit court, the court may hear evidence and may make temporary orders and findings pending the birth of the child. (b) (1) (A) If the parentage of a child has not been established, the Office of Child Support Enf…
Ark. Code Ann. § 9-10-104 Suit to determine paternity of child born outside of marriage
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(1) Petitions for paternity establishment may be filed by:(1) A biological mother;(2) A putative father;(3) A person for whom paternity is not presumed or established by court order, including a parent or grandparent of a deceased putative father; or(4) The Office of Child Suppor…
Ark. Code Ann. § 9-10-105 Trial by court
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When the case is ready for trial, if the accused denies being the father of the child, the circuit court shall hear the evidence and decide the case.
Ark. Code Ann. § 9-10-106 [Repealed.]
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A.C.A. § 9-10-106Current through all legislation of the 2025 Regular Session.Arkansas Code of 1987 Annotated Official EditionCopyright © 2026 by the State of Arkansas All rights reserved
Ark. Code Ann. § 9-10-107 [Repealed.]
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A.C.A. § 9-10-107Current through all legislation of the 2025 Regular Session.Arkansas Code of 1987 Annotated Official EditionCopyright © 2026 by the State of Arkansas All rights reserved
Ark. Code Ann. § 9-10-108 Paternity test
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(a) (1) Upon motion of either party in a paternity action, the trial court shall order that the putative father, mother, and child submit to scientific testing for paternity, which may include deoxyribonucleic acid testing, to determine whether or not the putative father can be e…
Ark. Code Ann. § 9-10-109 Child support following finding of paternity
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(a) (1) (A) Subsequent to the execution of an acknowledgment of paternity by the father and mother of a child pursuant to § 20-18-408 or § 20-18-409, or a similar acknowledgment executed during the child's minority, or subsequent to a finding by the court that the putative father…
Ark. Code Ann. § 9-10-110 Judgment for lying-in expenses — Commitment on failure to pay
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(a) If it is found by the court that the accused is the father of the child, the court shall render judgment against him for the lying-in expenses in favor of the mother, person, or agency incurring the lying-in expenses, if claimed. (b) If the lying-in expenses are not paid upon…
Ark. Code Ann. § 9-10-111 Judgment for child support — Bond
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(a) (1) If it is found by the circuit court that the accused is the father of the child and, if claimed by the mother, the circuit court or circuit judge shall give judgment for a monthly sum of not less than ten dollars ($10.00) per month for every month from three (3) years bef…
Ark. Code Ann. § 9-10-112 Income withholding — Delinquent noncustodial parent
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(a) (1) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, all persons under court order on August 1, 1985, to pay support who become delinquent thereunder in an amount equal to the total court-ordered support payable for thirty (30) days shall be subject to income withholding…
Ark. Code Ann. § 9-10-113 Custody of child born outside of marriage
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(a) When a child is born to an unmarried woman, legal custody of that child shall be in the woman giving birth to the child until the child reaches eighteen (18) years of age unless a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order placing the child in the custody of another part…
Ark. Code Ann. § 9-10-114 Visitation rights of father
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When any circuit court in this state determines the paternity of a child and orders the father to make periodic payments for support of the child, the court may also grant reasonable visitation rights to the father and may issue such orders as may be necessary to enforce the visi…
Ark. Code Ann. § 9-10-115 Modification of orders or judgments
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(a) The circuit court may at any time enlarge, diminish, or vacate any order or judgment in the proceedings under this section except in regard to the issue of paternity as justice may require and on such notice to the defendant as the court may prescribe. (b) The court shall not…
Ark. Code Ann. § 9-10-116 [Repealed.]
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A.C.A. § 9-10-116Current through all legislation of the 2025 Regular Session.Arkansas Code of 1987 Annotated Official EditionCopyright © 2026 by the State of Arkansas All rights reserved
Ark. Code Ann. § 9-10-117 [Repealed.]
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A.C.A. § 9-10-117Current through all legislation of the 2025 Regular Session.Arkansas Code of 1987 Annotated Official EditionCopyright © 2026 by the State of Arkansas All rights reserved
Ark. Code Ann. § 9-10-118 [Superseded.]
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A.C.A. § 9-10-118Current through all legislation of the 2025 Regular Session.Arkansas Code of 1987 Annotated Official EditionCopyright © 2026 by the State of Arkansas All rights reserved