In AR Legal Seperation costs as much as a uncontested divorce - but as posted earlier - you have to finalize the divorce before you can officially move on.
FC - first thing you need to do is to a lawyers office, tell them you wish to file a divorce petition to be served to your husband - usually within 24-48 hours. He has the option to contest it or not.
They will have 2-3 sessions with you and will cover things such as children, child support, any property you have bought since the marriage (such as vehicles, land, and or houses and in some cases, livestock as well) They will ask if there are any outstanding debts from either party or if there are any joint debts as well as any joint accounts, stocks, portfolios, etc. How much cash each party has immediately available to them and if either party is receiving or will be receiving any social benefits such as WIC , Food Stamps, ARKids 1st, Medicaid, Medicare, SSI, SSDI, etc. Also the lawyer will want to know if you are capable of sustaining yourself and your children, meaning can you hold down a job? Here in AR Deafness can get you by in most rural areas where the job market is small and you may not be able find a job that doesnt require you to hear, based on your transportation, locations, education, and skills. If you have been married for 10 years or more your husband may be required to pay you a set amount each month for living expenses meaning you should be able to maintain the same quality of living as you did while living together.
Within 6-8 weeks a court date is set, and the judge will grant the divorce.
Also put in the state paper as well as your local paper that you are no longer responsbile for any debts other than your own. Once the divorce is actually finalized the county will run a piece for usually 1-3 days that you and your husband have been granted divorce in state of Arkansas and a bunch of other legal gobble-dee-gook.
I got lucky and got an uncontested divorce, it was said done and over with in about 3 months.
