Divorce and Family Law Matters

Conway legal representation for you and your family

Located in Conway, AR, the Scroggins Law Firm serves families throughout Central Arkansas in any domestic relations legal issue.  The matters themselves can be sensitive and affect your loved ones and your future, and some judges can be severe.  So, you need a lawyer who knows her way around the courtroom. 

Experienced family law attorneys at the Scroggins Law Firm can help you through many tough family-based issues, including the following:

Divorce

Divorce is a big decision, and Arkansas state laws do not take it lightly.  First, Arkansas is a "fault" state, with no irreconcilable differences option. The only no-fault ground for divorce is if the spouses have lived separately for 18 months.  The at-fault grounds for divorce are the following:

To file for divorce, additional residency requirements must be met:

• Divorce cannot be finalized for at least 30 days after filing
• Divorce must be filed in the county in which the filer resides
• Divorce will not be finalized until three months after filing
• Divorce will take place in county where filer lives

If you were married under the Covenant Marriage Statute, the requirements for divorce are different.  For legal counsel and assistance with your divorce, contact the Scroggins Law Firm.

Child custody

In family law cases involving children, both parents begin child custody proceedings on level ground—the mother does not have any legal standing or right to custody beyond the father's.  Based on a number of factors, the judge decides what is in the best interest of the child. Factor may include, but are not limited to:  agent of the child, work schedules, primary caretaker, financial issues, child's activities, etc.

The court tries to ensure that the child has access to both parents, and that the custody share is in the best interests of the child.  However, it is best to have a skilled litigator on your side to make sure that your interests are clear and well-represented in court. 

Child support

Generally, a family court judge uses a standard of child support guidelines to determine the amount of child support the non-custodial parent must pay.  The judge may examine other income factors regarding the needs of the child and ability of noncustodial parent to consistently provide payment.  Many income factors determine the ability to provide:

The judge also considers negative income, such as taxes and money paid for other necessary expenses, including any other child support payments.  For more information, contact the Scroggins Law Firm online or visit the Arkansas Office of Child Support Enforcement website. 

Visitation issues

Parents can devise a visitation schedule if they can come to an agreement on visitation.  As with child support, a judge considers the general standard, but the visitation schedule may change it if extraordinary circumstances apply, such as a parent living out-of-state or excessive transportation costs. 

Adoption

The Arkansas Adoption and Foster Care Act passed in 2008 bans unmarried, cohabitating couples from adopting children.  If you are married or single and are looking to adopt, we can help you adopt children from within AR, across state lines, and from different countries.  It takes a lawyer experienced in adoption proceedings to handle the massive volume of complicated paperwork to bring a child into your home.  For more information, contact the Scroggins Law Firm online or visit the Arkansas Adoption Resource Exchange.

Representation of children

In Arkansas family courts, the opinion of children involved in domestic relations legal matters is of great importance.  These children need to understand their role in the legal proceedings, and they need support in making their decisions.  At the Scroggins Law Firm, the attorneys have a great deal of experience representing children in the courtroom.  With tender support, the lawyers make sure the child's voice is heard.  Fran Scroggins and Terri Kienlen are certified Attorneys Ad Litem, and are frequently appointed by the court to handle children's cases. 

Representing families in all their legal needs

The Scroggins Law Firm in Conway helps clients in Central Arkansas:

The law office is located on a main street, and there is parking beside the building.  With broad experience in most legal issues that a family may face, the Scroggins Law Firm is your best bet.  Call the office today at 501-450-9313 or contact the firm online to schedule your initial consultation.