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Family Law Attorneys Serving Northwest Arkansas

Compassionate Legal Representation for Family Matters

At Martin Attorneys, PA, our team of reputable and skilled attorneys is committed to helping clients navigate complicated family law matters. From divorce to child custody battles, our knowledgeable legal team is equipped with the extensive resources you need to build a strong strategy to defend your best interests. If you are faced with an important life decision regarding a key family relationship, then don’t hesitate to reach out to Martin Attorneys, PA to get legal advice from a compassionate family law attorney. We will gladly take the time to listen to all of your concerns and help you gain a clear understanding of the major issues that can impact your situation.

Martin Attorneys, PA is a full-service law firm capable of assisting you with a wide variety of legal disputes involving family members, including:

Divorce
Child Custody
Visitation
Adoption
and More

Understanding Legal Marriage in Arkansas

A legal marriage refers to a union between two individuals that is recognized and sanctioned by the law. It is a formal agreement that establishes the rights, responsibilities, and obligations between the spouses.

In most jurisdictions, including the United States, a legal marriage requires certain legal requirements to be met, such as:

Age Requirements: Both parties must meet the minimum age requirement specified by the law. The age requirement may vary depending on the jurisdiction, but generally, individuals must be at least 18 years old to get married without parental consent.
Consent: Both parties must willingly and voluntarily agree to enter into the marriage. Forced or coerced marriages are not considered legal.
License: Obtaining a marriage license is typically a prerequisite for a legal marriage. A marriage license is issued by a government authority, such as a county clerk's office, and serves as official permission to marry.
Ceremony: Most jurisdictions require a marriage ceremony to take place in the presence of an authorized individual, such as a religious official or a government-appointed officiant. The ceremony usually involves exchanging vows and signing the marriage license.
Registration: After the marriage ceremony, the marriage certificate or license must be filed or registered with the appropriate government authority to make the marriage legally recognized.

Know Your Rights in Family Law Matters

When it comes to family law matters, it's important to understand your rights and legal options. Whether you're going through a divorce, dealing with child custody issues, or considering adoption, having a knowledgeable and experienced family law attorney on your side can make all the difference.

Our team of compassionate and experienced family law attorneys at Martin Attorneys is dedicated to protecting what matters most to you. We will work tirelessly to ensure that your rights are upheld and that you receive the legal representation you deserve.

Divorce in Northwest Arkansas: Consult Our Lawyers

Divorce is necessary when spouses decide they want to terminate their marriage contract. From a legal standpoint, divorce gives each spouse the right to marry someone else. A divorce also requires spouses to divide their assets and debts and determine custody of their children. If you and your spouse agree on everything regarding your divorce agreement, then you can file for an uncontested divorce.

Spouses in Arkansas have to prove fault if they want to divorce. The only form of “no-fault” divorce, is if the spouses have lived separate and apart for 18 months. When that occurs, either party may obtain a divorce, even if the other party does not consent to the divorce. The other common grounds for divorce in Arkansas are “general indignities.” This means that the at-fault party has made the other party’s life intolerable.

Child Custody & Visitation Solutions in Northwest Arkansas

We know that child custody and visitation is often an ongoing source of conflict for divorcing parents. Judges in Arkansas consider the following factors when making child custody decisions:

Which party has been the primary caregiver?
Which party is most likely to foster a good relationship with the non-custodial parent?
Which party is most likely to care about the child’s academic performance?
Are either parties addicted to drugs or alcohol?
Has one of the parties been charged or convicted with a misdemeanor or felony?

Divorcing couples often tackle custody and visitation issues as soon as they separate, which is why you should immediately consult with a lawyer at our firm if you need advice regarding child custody and visitation.

To discuss your family law case with a Northwest Arkansas lawyer at our firm, give us a call at (479) 888-2039 or complete a form.
Se habla Español.

Frequently Asked Questions About Family Law in Arkansas

What are the grounds for divorce in Arkansas?

In Arkansas, the most common grounds for divorce are 'general indignities.' This means that the at-fault party has made the other party’s life intolerable. The only form of 'no-fault' divorce is if the spouses have lived separate and apart for 18 months. When that occurs, either party may obtain a divorce, even if the other party does not consent to the divorce.

What factors do judges consider when making child custody decisions in Arkansas?

Judges in Arkansas consider various factors when making child custody decisions, including which party has been the primary caregiver, which party is most likely to foster a good relationship with the non-custodial parent, which party is most likely to care about the child’s academic performance, and whether either party is addicted to drugs or alcohol.

Northwest Arkansas Adoption Lawyers

Adoption is the legal procedure that allows a family to make a child who is not biologically their own part of their family. Every adoption, whether foreign or domestic, requires the action and approval of a court to become final. Adopted children generally receive all the benefits afforded to natural children. Parents of adopted children are required to uphold all of the legal duties of care and support owed to a natural or birth child of the marriage.

We offer comprehensive adoption-related services for clients to help guide them through all phases of the adoption process. We know what's at stake when it comes to adopting a child, and we are prepared to stand by your side and provide you with the reliable counsel you need to address common legal obstacles you might encounter.

What is the difference between an open adoption and a closed adoption?

How to Sign Over Rights to a Child

In Arkansas, there are two ways to sign over rights to a child. One may do so by voluntarily signing over parental rights, by putting their child up for adoption. Parental rights may also be involuntarily terminated if the court determines that the parent or parents are not fulfilling their parental responsibilities, and it would be in the child’s best interest to no longer be with their parents.

Below are some reasons parental rights may be involuntarily terminated:

Not paying child support
Not providing necessary care
Not communicating with your child on a regular basis

If you have questions about parental rights in Arkansas or have a complex fathers right's matter, do not hesitate to reach out to our experienced family law attorneys at Martin Attorneys, PA. We have served families throughout Northwest Arkansas for more than 30 years and we would be happy to help you.

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I went to Stephen Fisher at Martin Attorneys, PA with a difficult situation in which I was trying to make an ex-spouse rise to a level of either upholding his commitments of our divorce decree in regards to our children or move on and stop causing emotional damage etc.

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