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Divorce Waiting Period in Arkansas

In Arkansas, no divorce decree can be granted until 30 days after the complaint is filed, the no-fault ground requires 18 continuous months of living apart, and covenant marriage is available.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Arkansas at a glance

Waiting period
30 days after filing
Counted from the date the complaint is filed.
Separation required
Yes, 18 months (no-fault ground)
Living separate and apart for 18 continuous months without cohabitation is a ground for divorce that does not require fault; the other grounds are fault based.
Covenant marriage
Yes
Arkansas offers covenant marriage under the Covenant Marriage Act of 2001.

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Arkansas

How long is the waiting period before a divorce can be finalized in Arkansas?

Waiting period in Arkansas: 30 days after filing. Counted from the date the complaint is filed.

Do spouses have to live apart before a no-fault divorce in Arkansas?

Separation required in Arkansas: Yes, 18 months (no-fault ground). Living separate and apart for 18 continuous months without cohabitation is a ground for divorce that does not require fault; the other grounds are fault based.

Does Arkansas offer covenant marriage?

Yes. Covenant marriage in Arkansas: yes. Arkansas offers covenant marriage under the Covenant Marriage Act of 2001.

Where do the Arkansas divorce waiting periods come from?

The rules above come from Ark. Code 9-12-307, Ark. Code 9-12-301 and Ark. Code 9-11-803. Each source is linked on this page. We last checked them in October 2026.

What this means in practice

A waiting period is a minimum, not an estimate. Contested issues such as property division, support or custody, court schedules and missing paperwork can make a divorce take much longer than the statutory minimum.

Separation rules can depend on how the state defines living apart. Some states count time spent separated under the same roof, while others require separate homes. Keeping a record of the date the separation began, such as a written separation agreement or a lease, can help show when the period started.

Spouses can often use the waiting period to negotiate a written settlement covering property, debts, support and parenting time. A settlement agreement that is ready when the waiting period ends can help the court finalize the divorce sooner, and a local attorney can confirm the filing requirements.

General information, not legal advice. Laws change, and cities can add their own rules, so check the current statute before you rely on it.