Serving divorce papers in Arkansas
How your spouse gets the divorce papers in Arkansas: who can deliver the papers, the deadline to respond, what happens without a response and the law.
Checked against official sources: Oct 24, 2026
In short
If you were served: Time to respond: Generally 30 days after service. If you are filing: Your spouse must be formally served with the complaint and summons (sheriff, process server, or restricted-delivery certified mail), or can sign paperwork agreeing to proceed without formal service.
- Time to respond
- 30 days after service
- Law
- Ark. R. Civ. P. 4, 12; Arkansas Law Help
Were you served in Arkansas?
Enter the day you got the papers (the summons and the petition). We show the deadline to answer.
How papers are served in Arkansas
- Your spouse must be formally served with the complaint and summons (sheriff, process server, or restricted-delivery certified mail), or can sign paperwork agreeing to proceed without formal service.
- If you can't find your spouse, you may use a warning order.
Law: Ark. R. Civ. P. 4, 12; Arkansas Law Help
Deadline to respond and default
Generally 30 days after service.
If your spouse doesn't respond in time, you can usually ask the judge for a default judgment.
Serving your spouse in Arkansas, step by step
File your papers first
File with the Circuit Court (domestic relations division) in the county where you or your spouse live. Service comes after filing.
Serve the papers
Your spouse must be formally served with the complaint and summons (sheriff, process server, or restricted-delivery certified mail), or can sign paperwork agreeing to proceed without formal service.
File proof of service
File the proof of service with the court.
Watch the deadline
Generally 30 days after service.
If there is no response
If your spouse doesn't respond in time, you can usually ask the judge for a default judgment.
Questions about serving divorce papers in Arkansas
How do you serve divorce papers in Arkansas?
Your spouse must be formally served with the complaint and summons (sheriff, process server, or restricted-delivery certified mail), or can sign paperwork agreeing to proceed without formal service. If you can't find your spouse, you may use a warning order.
How long does my spouse have to respond in Arkansas?
Generally 30 days after service.
More about divorce in Arkansas
- All Arkansas divorce laws
- Uncontested divorce in Arkansas
- Child custody and support in Arkansas
- Divorce timeline estimator for Arkansas
- Divorce checklist for Arkansas
- Served with divorce papers: what to do
- Timeline estimator