{"id":371675,"date":"2016-03-31T21:34:25","date_gmt":"2016-04-01T02:34:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ability-fl-prod.internetbrands.com\/ability-law\/state\/arkansas-law\/arkansas-homestead-laws.html"},"modified":"2026-09-10T10:17:16","modified_gmt":"2026-09-10T15:17:16","slug":"arkansas-homestead-laws","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/arkansas-law\/arkansas-homestead-laws.html","title":{"rendered":"Arkansas Homestead Laws"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Arkansas Homestead Laws<\/h1>\n\n
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\n By Lyle Therese A. Hilotin-Lee, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Catherine Hodder, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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A\u00a0homestead exemption<\/span>\u00a0shields some or all of the equity in your main home from creditors, including bankruptcy trustees. These laws exist to help families keep their homes, even if they face lawsuits or unpaid debts. If you are facing a lawsuit judgment or thinking about bankruptcy, an\u00a0Arkansas<\/span> bankruptcy attorney can help<\/a>. They can calculate your exemption and explain whether the state or federal option protects more of your home equity.<\/p>\n

How the Arkansas<\/span> Homestead Exemption<\/span> Works<\/h2>\n

Your homestead exemption<\/span><\/a> matters most in two situations. First, a creditor holding a court judgment may try to force the sale of your home to collect on it. The other possibility is that you may file for Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy, where the exemption determines how much home equity you keep instead of giving it up to the bankruptcy estate.<\/p>\n

The Arkansas<\/span> homestead exemption<\/span> is addressed directly in the state constitution, rather than in state law<\/span>. Article 9 of the\u00a0Arkansas<\/span>\u00a0Constitution<\/a> provides the core protection. The state legislature later codified and clarified those protections through the Homestead Exemption<\/span> Act.<\/p>\n

You don\u2019t need to file a formal declaration to get this protection. It applies automatically if you are married or the head of a family and the property is\u00a0<\/span>your main home. If you file for bankruptcy, you\u2019ll need to claim the exemption using the appropriate paperwork.<\/p>\n

The Arkansas<\/span> Constitution includes a $2,500 value cap for homesteads above the minimum protected acreage, which hasn\u2019t changed since being set decades ago. Arkansas<\/span> lawmakers never adjusted it for inflation, leaving the Arkansas<\/span> homestead exemption<\/span> unusually low compared to neighboring states. However, the acreage-based structure of the Arkansas<\/span> homestead law fills that limitation.<\/p>\n

Homestead Exemption<\/span> Limits in Arkansas<\/span><\/h2>\n

Arkansas<\/span> is among the few states that tie homestead protection<\/span> to acreage. The Arkansas<\/span> Constitution protects a homestead up to a maximum acreage, subject to a $2,500 value cap. It also guarantees a minimum acreage that is protected regardless of value. This depends on location:<\/p>\n