Arkansas Child Custody Laws

By Olivia Wathne, Esq. | Legally reviewed by Ally Marshall, Esq. | Last reviewed December 12, 2024

State laws regulate physical and legal child custody. These laws all conform to the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (UCCJEA). The purpose of the UCCJEA is to ensure that states honor the child custody orders of other states to prevent parental abduction or other custody problems.

All states offer visitation options for eligible non-custodial parents, and many allow grandparent visitation. All states make the child's best interests the main goal of any custody order.

This article offers an overview of child custody laws in Arkansas.

Child Custody Laws in Arkansas

In Arkansas, courts determine children's physical and legal custody arrangements based on factors that focus on the child's best interests. Courts can change a custody order if it serves the best interests of the child or if there is a "material change in circumstances," such as a parent getting deployed for military service.

Arkansas family court judges have authority to make child custody decisions and will consider the following factors:

The child's preference
Each parent's home environment
Work schedules of parents
Relationship between the parents
History of drug or alcohol abuse
History of domestic abuse or domestic violence

More details about Arkansas child custody laws are in the chart below. See FindLaw's extensive Child Custody section for more articles and resources.

Code section	9-13-101, et seq.
Year Uniform Child Custody Act adopted	1979
Types of custody available	Joint custody of the child. Both parents have decision-making authority on behalf of the child; the child spends roughly equal parenting time with each parent Joint physical custody. Child spends equal time with each parent Joint legal custody. Both parents have authority to make important decisions on behalf of the child Sole legal and physical custody. One parent Third-party custody. State becomes custodian of child (foster care, adoption, institution, etc.)
Grandparent visitation rights recognized?	Yes, §9-13-103
Child's own wishes considered?	Yes

Note: State laws are always subject to change at any time, usually through the enactment of new statutes but sometimes through higher court decisions or other means. You may want to contact an Arkansas child custody attorney or conduct your own legal research to verify the state laws you are researching.

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