Knowledgeable Legal Guidance In Divorce
Getting a divorce in Arkansas can be complex and emotionally charged. Some laws stipulate how and when you can get a divorce, interfering with your plans to resolve things quickly. There are many issues to be worked out that may defy simple solutions.
I am attorney Scott Scholl, and I am proud to help clients throughout Faulkner County with their divorce needs. I assist my clients at the Scholl Law Firm, PLLC, in all areas of divorce and provide them with the compassionate and reliable guidance they need to protect their best interests.
Grounds For Divorce
In order to obtain a “no-fault” divorce in Arkansas, a married couple will need to have lived separately for 18 months before filing. If you cannot wait that long, you will need to establish grounds for divorce. Arkansas divorce law recognized the following grounds:
- Adultery
- Cruel or inhumane treatment
- Felony conviction
- Drunkenness
- Impotence
- Lack of support
- Humiliation
- Incurable insanity
Asserting the other party’s “fault” is not about blaming, shaming or revenge. It is simply necessary to dissolve the legal bonds of marriage. The grounds for divorce have little or no bearing on asset division, financial support or child custody.
Terms Of Divorce
Arkansas is an equitable distribution state. This means that the wealth you accumulated together in your marriage must be divided in a fair and equitable way (but not necessarily 50-50). It doesn’t matter who was the breadwinner or whose name is on the accounts, although the court will recognize separate property that was owned before the marriage. All property, including the house, a small business, re retirement savings and investments, is subject to division. Likewise, joint debts must be apportioned. My role is to make sure that the property settlement is fair and in your financial interest. That involves creative trade-offs and sometimes contested proceedings to establish the value of assets and whether they are marital property.
Child custody and visitation is often the central issue in a divorce. I provide compassionate and sensible guidance to help divorcing couples work through these critically important issues so that your children are protected and your are able to cooperate in their upbringing.
Alimony (spousal support) is not always awarded in an Arkansas divorce. The court considers many factors, from income disparity and accustomed lifestyle to health, age and length of the marriage. I have successfully argued for and against alimony in contested cases.
Speaking of which, I can also help you formalize an uncontested divorce. If you and your spouse have been separated for 18 months or agree on all matters of property, support and parenting arrangements, I can draft or review the dissolution papers to be presented to the court for approval.
See my Arkansas Divorce FAQ for additional information
Years Of Experience, Including Divorce For Military Personnel
Whether you and your spouse are trying to resolve your divorce together through collaboration or your need to pursue a contested divorce, you should always have a skilled lawyer at your side. I have over 20 years of experience in property division, child custody and modifications, and child support and alimony resolutions. I also have a military background, which helps me aid my clients with military divorces as well.
Let Me Defend You
Without an attorney, you risk receiving the outcome in a divorce that leaves you in a vulnerable position for the future. I offer my clients the one-on-one attention they need, backed by open communication and a skillful eye for problem-solving. If you are ready to meet with me at my offices in Little Rock, call 501-588-1148 or email me here to schedule your free initial consultation today.