Arkansas is one of the most difficult states to get a divorce. Unlike most states, Arkansas continues to observe fault-based divorce laws. If you want to file a no-fault divorce in Arkansas, you must wait at least 18 months after separating from your spouse to proceed.
The challenges of getting a divorce in Arkansas become even greater if you are in a covenant marriage. Because covenant marriages are marked by a higher level of commitment, your ability to divorce your spouse may be more limited than most people’s.
Covenant marriages make divorce more difficult
Three states recognize covenant marriages, one of which is Arkansas. If you and your spouse opted to enter a covenant marriage, you chose to make – under the eyes of the law – a lifelong commitment to each other. You might have done so for reasons of faith, or if you assumed you two would never divorce. Yet, in either case, if your covenant marriage has become untenable, you will need to jump through more hoops to end it than if you had entered a non-covenant marriage.
Before you can pursue a divorce in a covenant marriage, you and your spouse must attend marriage counseling. There are also fewer grounds for divorce in a covenant marriage, and counseling is usually required
While ending your covenant marriage is possible in Arkansas, the steps you must take to do so can be difficult. An attorney with family law experience can help you navigate the process.