Bill > HB1848

This bill amends Arkansas law regarding child custody and domestic abuse, clarifying how courts should handle custody cases involving domestic violence. The bill expands the definition of "domestic abuse" to include physical harm, bodily injury, assault, threats of imminent physical harm, and certain sexual offenses between family or household members. It establishes a rebuttable presumption that a child should not be placed in the sole custody of a parent found to have engaged in a pattern of domestic abuse. The burden is now on the abusive parent to prove that having custody will not endanger the child. When considering parenting time for a parent who has committed domestic abuse, courts must make specific findings about the ongoing risk of harm to the child and may order safety conditions or require the parent to complete a certified domestic violence intervention program. The changes aim to prioritize child safety by giving courts more guidance and tools to protect children in cases involving domestic violence, removing the previous mandatory language and providing more nuanced decision-making criteria for judges.

Justice

https://arkleg.state.ar.us/Bills/Detail?id=hb1848&ddBienniumSession=2025%2F2025R