Reviewed August 2026
Spousal Support in Arkansas
Arkansas calls spousal support alimony. A circuit court decides it as part of a divorce case, under Arkansas Code § 9-12-312. The state does not require alimony in every case, and there is no statutory formula for the amount. The decision rests largely on the trial judge's discretion, guided by case law built up around the statute. Arkansas law does not spell out a detailed list of factors, the way some states do. Appellate decisions have filled in most of how courts approach alimony. Judges generally focus on one spouse's need for support and the other spouse's ability to pay. They also weigh each spouse's financial circumstances and the standard of living set during the marriage. Alimony in Arkansas can be awarded for a set term or with no fixed end date, depending on the facts. The amount can later change if circumstances shift significantly after the divorce.
Virdix's document-preparation product currently prepares divorce paperwork for California and Florida cases. This page explains how spousal support works under Arkansas law for people researching before they file. It is not legal advice, and Virdix does not prepare or file Arkansas paperwork. See how Virdix works for California divorces.
Get notified when Virdix reaches Arkansas
We'll send one email, nothing else, the day Arkansas launches.
The legal standard under Ark. Code § 9-12-312
Ark. Code Ann. § 9-12-312 gives the circuit court authority to order alimony as part of a divorce decree. The statute is brief and does not list out many factors. Instead, Arkansas courts rely on standards built through case law. Judges weigh the requesting spouse's financial need against the other spouse's ability to pay. They also look at each spouse's income, property, health, and the length of the marriage.
How amount and duration are decided
Arkansas judges have wide discretion over both the amount and the length of an alimony award. There is no statutory cap or formula tying the amount to income or to the length of the marriage. Awards can run for a set period, often to give a spouse time to become self-supporting. They can also run with no fixed end date, in longer marriages or where one spouse has limited earning capacity.
Modification after the divorce
An alimony order in Arkansas can be modified after the divorce. Either spouse must show a change in circumstances significant enough to justify adjusting the amount. This usually means filing a motion in the same circuit court that entered the original decree. The motion must include evidence of the changed financial situation, such as a substantial change in income, employment, or health.
Termination on remarriage
Arkansas courts generally treat the remarriage of the receiving spouse as ending the paying spouse's obligation to continue alimony. The law presumes that a recipient's financial need changes with a new marriage. Even so, a paying spouse who learns of the remarriage should still bring the matter before the court to formally end the order. Stopping payments without a court ruling can create disputes later.
Sources: Arkansas Code § 9-12-312 (alimony, archived copy of official code text), Arkansas Judiciary - resources for the public, Arkansas Judiciary - court forms and publications, IRS Tax Topic 452, Alimony and Separate Maintenance
Not independently confirmed
- The exact case law standard Arkansas courts cite for terminating alimony on remarriage was not independently pinned to a single controlling case; confirm current case law with the circuit court or a licensed attorney.
- Arkansas's official legislative website does not offer a reliably linkable statute page for automated verification; the statute citation is confirmed through an archived secondary database copy rather than a live official page.
Spousal Support in Arkansas: frequently asked questions
What is spousal support called in Arkansas?+
Arkansas law and courts call it alimony. It is authorized under Arkansas Code § 9-12-312, and the circuit court decides it as part of a divorce case.
Does Arkansas have a formula for calculating alimony?+
No. Arkansas has no statutory formula for the amount or duration of alimony. Courts rely on factors developed through case law, mainly the requesting spouse's need and the other spouse's ability to pay. This gives the trial judge broad discretion.
How long does alimony last in Arkansas?+
There is no fixed statutory duration. A judge can order alimony for a set term, often to give a spouse time to become self-supporting. Alimony can also run with no specific end date, in longer marriages or cases involving limited earning capacity. Duration depends on the facts of each case.
Can alimony be changed after an Arkansas divorce is final?+
Yes. Either spouse can ask the circuit court to modify an alimony order. They must show a significant change in circumstances since the original decree, such as a substantial change in income, employment, or health.
Does remarriage end alimony in Arkansas?+
Generally, yes. Arkansas courts typically treat the recipient's remarriage as ending the alimony obligation. The paying spouse should ask the court to formally end the order, rather than stop payments without a ruling.
Is alimony taxable in Arkansas?+
For divorces finalized after December 31, 2018, federal law no longer treats alimony this way. Under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, the paying spouse can no longer deduct alimony, and the recipient does not report it as taxable income. Agreements executed before 2019 generally keep the older tax treatment, unless later modified.
This page is general information about spousal support in Arkansas, not legal advice for your situation. Laws, fees, and procedures change over time; confirm current details with Arkansas's own courts before relying on anything here. Virdix is not a law firm and is not licensed to practice law in Arkansas. Virdix does not prepare or file Arkansas divorce paperwork. It is not a substitute for an attorney licensed in Arkansas.
More Arkansas divorce guides
Virdix currently serves California and Florida
In the states Virdix serves, it guides you through that state's own court forms so your paperwork is complete and consistent before you file. If you're filing in Arkansas, the resources above are the right place to start, and the form above will tell you the moment Virdix reaches your state.
If the court clerk rejects a document we prepared, we fix it for free until it's accepted. See how the guarantee works