Arkansas

Family Law

Family Law

Section 9-14-101 – Implied consent to jurisdiction for child support and maintenance or to establish paternity – Service of process

(a) Any person who establishes or acquires a marital domicile in this state, who contracts marriage in this state, or who becomes a resident of this state while legally married, and subsequently absents himself or herself from the state leaving a dependent natural or adopted child in this state and fails to support the child as required by the laws of this state, is deemed to have consented and submitted to the jurisdiction of the courts of this state as to any cause of action brought against that person for the support and maintenance of the child.
(b) In an action to establish paternity or to establish or enforce a child support obligation in regard to a child who is the subject of the action, a person is deemed to have consented and submitted to the jurisdiction of the courts of this state if any of the following circumstances exists:

(1) The person engaged in sexual intercourse with the child’s mother in this state during the period of the child’s conception or the affected child was conceived in this state; or
(2) The person resides or has resided with the child in this state.
(c) Service of process upon any person who is deemed by this section to have consented and submitted to the jurisdiction of the courts of this state may be made pursuant to Rule 4 of the Arkansas Rules of Civil Procedure.

Ark. Code § 9-14-101

Acts 1969, No. 297, §§ 1, 2; A.S.A. 1947, §§ 34-2446, 34-2447; Acts 1989, No. 508, §§ 1, 2