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Arkansas Child Custody Questions & Answers
1 Answer | Asked in Child Custody for Arkansas on
Q: I was told Arkansas has a law called “year and a day” when it comes to child custody.

I was wondering what that is exactly and what can set that into motion for his father to sign his rights over .

Patrick R. Lee
Patrick R. Lee
answered on Aug 7, 2019

This question is a little confusing, but I think you're referring to the definition of abandonment in the family law section of the Arkansas Code (Title 9). The law is that if a parent significantly fails without good reason to communicate with a child or pay support for the child for over a... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Family Law, Child Custody and Child Support for Arkansas on
Q: How do I know if my fiancé signed away his rights to his child. Arkansas

The custudy papers say the mother gets sole legal and physical custudy. It also states that his signature could be used in a single parent adoption he does pay child support.

Patrick R. Lee
Patrick R. Lee
answered on Aug 5, 2019

Unless his parental rights have specifically been terminated, he can probably still go back to court and prove a material change which would warrant him getting some visitation.

It depends on the specific language in the last custody order. If he wants to have visitation with the child, he...
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1 Answer | Asked in Family Law and Child Custody for Arkansas on
Q: My ex and I have joint custody but he has physical custody of our son. His job is nowout of state does this change thing

My ex is telling me to take our son to his step mothers. I feel that if his dad is gone for weeks at a time he should be with me. He recently called and told me to come get our son because him and her were fighting and going to split..now a week later he is telling me to bring him back to her. What... View More

Patrick R. Lee
Patrick R. Lee
answered on Jul 23, 2019

If you feel that the environment is harmful to your son and that he is not even spending time with your ex during his periods of visitation, you may have cause to file a motion to modify your custody arrangement. It's important that this is a new development, because you must prove a... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Family Law and Child Custody for Arkansas on
Q: can I get rights terminated if I put a stop to revolving door biological dad due to it hurting my 5 year old?

bio dad has never consistenly been around. he comes and goes whenever with months in between contact. He does not have any court order visitation. Never been to court at all. He is on the birth certificate.

I’m in Conway arkansas. Not sure why it says Memphis TN

Patrick R. Lee
Patrick R. Lee
answered on Jul 18, 2019

Does he have court awarded visitation? You can't get his parental rights terminated, only DHS or a court-appointed attorney ad litem can do that.

If he doesn't have a court order stating he is entitled to visitation, you don't have to let him see the child. I would want to...
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1 Answer | Asked in Family Law and Child Custody for Arkansas on
Q: I'm in Faulkner County Ar., and was served a petition to establish paternity and custody, how do i file answer to this?

My daughters father wants to take custody completely from me and is trying to use my past against me. Meaning i was abused most of my upbringing and become a addict due to it. In 2014 I had lost everything in tornado and i had fallen in deep depression and relapsed. It was suggested to myself that... View More

Patrick R. Lee
Patrick R. Lee
answered on Jul 17, 2019

The best way it so hire an attorney and let them guide you through the process. It sounds like he's definitely the father, so he'll likely be awarded some sort of visitation, but he'll likely be required to pay child support to the child's current custodian. Is that you or your mother?

1 Answer | Asked in Child Custody and Child Support for Arkansas on
Q: Me and my husband are legally married but have not lived together in 7years and I have court order child support for are

2 kids can my husband leave state with one of are two kids without permission and no interest in bring the child back

Patrick R. Lee
Patrick R. Lee
answered on Jul 17, 2019

You and your husband both have a constitutional right to access to the children until a court orders otherwise. If you think your husband is about to leave the state with one of your kids and never come back, you probably need to get something filed to prohibit him from doing that. I would... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Child Custody and Family Law for Arkansas on
Q: Am I allowed to move out of state with my child without going to court?

My childs father and I were unmarried. We split about a year and a half after she was born. She has been with me for 2 years. He moved to another state for rehab but has moved back and now claims he wants to be part of her life though he shows no consistency. I want to move out of state within the... View More

Patrick R. Lee
Patrick R. Lee
answered on Jul 18, 2019

It depends on whether he has established paternity. If he's signed an acknowledgment of paternity or his name is on the birth certificate, he may have an argument that he has rights to the child, but it also sounds like no court has awarded him visitation or anything. If he wants to stop you... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Child Custody for Arkansas on
Q: The father of my child has been in and out his life for 1 year and 6 months. He doesn't know how to take care of him,

He is not on the birth certificate and he once told me that he wanted to keep partying Instead of being a father. Now he is saying that he is ready and that he wants to step up. Is it legally too late? I don't know if I want to trust him or not because not only has he abused me but he had... View More

Patrick R. Lee
Patrick R. Lee
answered on Jul 18, 2019

Until his paternity is established, he doesn't have any right to see the baby. If he wants to have rights, he has to go through the legal process of filing a paternity action. It is not legally too late for him to do so because it sounds like he has made some very minor efforts to be in the... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Family Law and Child Custody for Arkansas on
Q: sole legal custody parent has not gotten glasses or eye exam for vision impair son for a year. Can the NCP get legal cus

My boyfriend's Ex-wife has sole physical and legal custody (he was unaware of what he was giving up). Their son has bad vision, he has gone over a year without an eye exam and went without glasses for a year. My boyfriend kept asking her when she was going to do it and she kept saying she was... View More

Chris W. Burks
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Chris W. Burks
answered on Apr 5, 2019

Thanks and the standard for a change in custody in Arkansas is a material change in circumstances. You could argue that the child's poor attendance and performance in school, coupled with worsening health amounts to a change in circumstances. There are many factors a Court will consider, but... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Divorce, Child Custody and Child Support for Arkansas on
Q: A judge court ordered the visitation, but my ex is not letting me see my kids on my weekend. Is this contempt?

How do I proceed to take action? I do owe back pay due to incarceration, we court ordered every other weekend to have kids. She had em weekend before so it’s my weekend. She stating just cause she didn’t receive child support payment that I’m not getting kids on my weekend?

Stewart Whaley
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Stewart Whaley
answered on Jan 6, 2019

She is violating the visitation order.

Visitation and child support are separate. That is, she had no right to stop visitation because you aren’t paying. Only the judge can modify the visitation.

She needs to go through the court/OCSE to address child support, not keep you...
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1 Answer | Asked in Child Custody for Arkansas on
Q: Can I file emergency custody in a different state then where my kids live

Ex filed divorce and custody got temporary custody on lies he told on me and his lying to our kids about me his getting our kids to hare me and pushing away from me we live in 2 different state I have proof of his lies can I file for emergency custody from the state I live in

Stewart Whaley
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Stewart Whaley
answered on Jan 2, 2019

You probably need to file in the state that granted temporary custody. Talk with a family lawyer about specific facts that might impact what you do next.

1 Answer | Asked in Family Law and Child Custody for Arkansas on
Q: have court ordered visitations with my daughter's but their father has refused my visits for over 2 years. Help?
Stewart Whaley
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Stewart Whaley
answered on Jan 2, 2019

You need to ask for relief from the court that ordered the visitation.

He is violating an order from that court. For example, you could file a motion for contempt of court for not complying with the order.

1 Answer | Asked in Family Law and Child Custody for Arkansas on
Q: I'm primary custodian & my 13 yo doesn't want to go to his dad's for c/o visitation anymore. Do I have to make him go?

His dad and I have been divorced since he was 2 yo and have a standing custody order/visitation agreement. His dad always has friends over, parties all the time, openly smokes weed with all of his friends in front of my son and his other kids. When he has my son on school nights, my son goes to... View More

Stewart Whaley
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Stewart Whaley
answered on Nov 7, 2018

Yes, you have to make him go.

Ask the court to drug test dad (assuming you can pass one).

Petition the court for a modification of the custody/visitation order and stress the failed drug test.

Generally, courts don't like to stick kids in the middle of a parent-fight....
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1 Answer | Asked in Child Custody for Arkansas on
Q: If no custady is legally set can on parent legally pick up the kids from school and keep them without returning them

I've had my kids all their life them with no help or contact with thier father until recently. Me and my husband moved to arkadelphia and the kids stayed with thier father until we could get on our feet and now he wnot give them back.

Stewart Whaley
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Stewart Whaley
answered on Nov 6, 2018

Where you married to him when the children were born or has he legally established paternity in another fashion (acknowledgement of paternity at birth, OCSE enforcement case, etc)?

He may have no parental rights in the first place.

In that case he would have the same right that I...
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1 Answer | Asked in Child Custody and Child Support for Arkansas on
Q: My daughter already lives with me and I still pay child support to her mom. Can I get full custody of her?

I have no rights. Her will not cooperate with me.

Stewart Whaley
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Stewart Whaley
answered on Oct 31, 2018

There isn't enough information given.

What do you mean by "pay child support?"

If you are the legal father and paying support (through an OCSE paternity action, court ordered child support from a divorce, etc.) you need to determine your custody/visitation situation....
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1 Answer | Asked in Child Custody, Child Support, Divorce and Family Law for Arkansas on
Q: Is it legal for my husband to sign parental rights away of our infant son in Arkansas if we both agree?

My husband and I are currently separated, and looking to divorce. We have no assets to divide, however, We do have a four month old son together. He believes that if he signs his rights away that he will not have to provide child support for our child, and be free of his parental responsibilities.... View More

Stewart Whaley
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Stewart Whaley
answered on Sep 18, 2018

He doesn't understand the subject. If "signing away rights to avoid child support" was that simple, millions of dirtbags would do it.

It IS possible for a parent's child support obligation to terminate, but the situations are quite specific. For example, someone else...
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1 Answer | Asked in Child Custody for Arkansas on
Q: Can you force the non-custodial parent to have visitation time with the child?
Stewart Whaley
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Stewart Whaley
answered on Aug 25, 2018

No, but you might consider looking into options like abandonment, termination of parental rights and any child support issues.

Also consider - what is the likelihood that a "forced" visitation would be positive for the child's development?

I can't imagine the...
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1 Answer | Asked in Family Law and Child Custody for Arkansas on
Q: How does my mother in law obtain emergency custody of her nephew she has had since birth and he is now a year and a half

My mother in law has had her nephew since he was born. He is now a year and a half and has permanently resided at her home. Every weekend or everyry other weekend the biological parents take him "to spend time with him". The baby has come back with high amounts of benadryl in his system.... View More

James E Hensley Jr
James E Hensley Jr
answered on Aug 18, 2018

Guardianship. Grandmother cannot have any felony conviction. Must have suitable home with utilities and a good income. She can't have any miscreants in the home. No bad people can live there.

She could also call DHS. They will come out and look at the place and maybe give her...
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1 Answer | Asked in Child Custody, Domestic Violence and Family Law for Arkansas on
Q: does an order of protection remain if child custody is changed

My mom got an order of protection against my step-dad for her and my little brothers. My grandma recently took them as their legal guardian. My step-dad brought over a tv for them with my grandmas convent but we are worried my mom will press charges. Is my grandma at any legal fault?

James E Hensley Jr
James E Hensley Jr
answered on Aug 6, 2018

Probably won't get into trouble since grandma consented. Still, he could be in some real trouble if she changes her mind. The order tells him to stay away from certain people. It was the Judge who made the order. If step dad wants to see the kids or visit under any circumstances, he must... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Family Law and Child Custody for Arkansas on
Q: I am the mother of three young boys. They've been staying with grandparents and they won't let me take them.

I need to know how to file an emergency custody hearing. There is no open dhs case. But my oldest son was allegedly molested in their fathers care. His mother admitted this in front of a police officer the other day. I need my kids home and safe.I am the mother and legal guardian on three young... View More

Stewart Whaley
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Stewart Whaley
answered on Aug 2, 2018

Contact local family law attorneys and/or legal aid (income-based qualification). Assuming ONLY the facts provided, you should be able to get an enforceable order to retrieve the kids. If you can't afford an attorney and legal aid doesn't take the case, there are resources online that... View More

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