Co-parenting in Arkansas, without the 10 p.m. scramble
The school email. The $120 receipt. The pickup you have to confirm again. Hand Civly any of it as it arrived and it lands on one calendar both houses read — and if you ever need the record for Circuit Court, where AR custody matters are heard, it's already there. You won't be building it at 10 p.m.
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Circuit Court
handles custody in AR
Ark. Code § 9-13-101
custody statute
Arkansas custody law
Arkansas courts determine custody based on the best interests of the child and may award joint custody upon request of either parent.
What Arkansas courts consider in custody decisions
Arkansas courts consider the wishes of the child and the wishes of the parents, the interaction and relationship of the child with each parent and siblings, the child's adjustment to home/school/community, the mental and physical health of all parties, and which parent is more likely to allow the child frequent and continuing contact with the other parent. Under § 9-13-101(a)(1)(A)(ii), Arkansas specifically weights the 'friendly parent' factor — the willingness and ability of each parent to facilitate and encourage a close and continuing parent-child relationship with the other parent. There is no statutory presumption favoring joint custody, but courts may award it upon request of either parent.
How the custody process works in Arkansas
Arkansas custody cases are heard in Circuit Court (Family Law Division in larger counties). The court may order mediation to help parents resolve disputes before trial. Arkansas requires a parenting plan that outlines custody arrangements, parenting time schedules, and decision-making authority. Children do not have a statutory age threshold for expressing a preference, but judges give increasing weight to the child's wishes as the child matures.
Key Arkansas custody statutes
- Ark. Code § 9-13-101
- Ark. Code § 9-13-102
- Ark. Code § 9-13-103
How Civly helps Arkansas parents
One week, both houses, one version
Paste the school email or a calendar link and the events build themselves. Color-coded custody schedule from your own parenting plan. Share a read-only link with grandparents, attorneys, or mediators.
Say it how it comes out. Send the calm version.
Type or speak what you really feel — Civly writes the calm version — the one you would not cringe at if it were read back later. Your vent stays private and never enters an export. What you send is what gets kept.
Snap the receipt, skip the math
Snap a receipt or forward an email. AI extracts the amount. Your co-parent approves or disputes. Everything documented, timestamped, and exportable for your attorney.
Records your attorney can work with
Every message is timestamped, and exports as a certified PDF with a SHA-256 hash and a code anyone can check at civly.com/verify. How to present it in Arkansas's Circuit Court system is your attorney's call, and whether a record is admitted is always the court's decision.
Pricing comparison
Civly
$79/year
or $7.99/month
- AI message rewriting
- Custody calendar
- Expense tracking
- Timestamped PDF exports
- Certified exports with verification codes
OurFamilyWizard Essentials
$149.99/year
Their cheapest tier that includes Writing Assistant. Cheaper OFW tiers exist without it. Per parent, list price August 2026.
Frequently asked questions
You don't need their agreement to start
Set up the calendar, log what's owed, draft the message you have to send tonight. Invite them when you're ready — the shared parts switch on the day they join.
Start tonight — $79/year30-day money-back guarantee. Available in every state.
Civly is not a law firm and this page is not legal advice. Custody law and the rules of evidence vary from state to state, and individual judges apply them differently. For advice about your own case, speak to a family law attorney licensed in Arkansas. Civly launched in 2026 and is not named in many court orders yet — if your order already requires a specific platform, keep using it and ask your attorney before switching.