Arkansas Circuit Courts Judges’ Benchbook Civil & Criminal Divisions The Administrative Office of the Courts Justice Building, Suite 1100 625 Marshall Street Little Rock, AR 72201 (501) 682-9400 https://www.arcourts.gov Updated November 2019 Table of Contents I. Jurisdiction ........................................................................................................................ 1 Subject Matter Jurisdiction .................................................................................................. 1 Personal Jurisdiction ............................................................................................................ 1 In Rem Jurisdiction .............................................................................................................. 5 Quasi-in-Rem Jurisdiction .................................................................................................... 6 Challenges to Jurisdiction .................................................................................................... 7 II. Venue .................................................................................................................................. 8 Civil Actions In General ....................................................................................................... 8 Local Civil Actions ................................................................................................................ 9 Actions on Debt, Account, or Note .......................................................................................10 Actions for medical injury ....................................................................................................10 Contract actions by resident subcontractor, supplier, or materialman against nonresident prime contractor or subcontractor .......................................................................................10 Action by insured or beneficiary against surety on contractor's performance bond ..........10 Actions against a public school district ...............................................................................11 Local Criminal Actions ........................................................................................................11 Transitory Cases ..................................................................................................................11 Transitory Actions ...............................................................................................................12 Causes of Action ...............................................................................................................12 Actions Involving the State .................................................................................................12 Objections to Venue .............................................................................................................13 Change of Venue Procedure - Civil ......................................................................................14 Change of Venue Procedure - Criminal ...............................................................................15 III. Specific Actions ............................................................................................................ 17 Real Property .......................................................................................................................17 Eminent Domain ..............................................................................................................17 Forcible Entry and Detainer ............................................................................................20 Escheated Estates ............................................................................................................23 Ejectment – In General ....................................................................................................24 Ejectment – Tax Deed ......................................................................................................26 Partition ............................................................................................................................27 Adverse Possession & the Statute of Limitations for Land Actions ...............................28 i Public Nuisances ..............................................................................................................29 Specific Writs .......................................................................................................................30 Mandamus and Prohibition ..............................................................................................30 Certiorari ..........................................................................................................................31 Corporations .........................................................................................................................31 Dissolution & Liquidation ................................................................................................31 Uniform Arbitration Act ......................................................................................................33 Jurisdiction .......................................................................................................................33 Venue ................................................................................................................................34 Motions to Compel or Stay ...............................................................................................34 Appointment of Arbitrators ..............................................................................................35 Confirmation of an Award ................................................................................................35 Vacating an Award ...........................................................................................................35 Modification or Correction of an Award ...........................................................................37 Recovery of Personal Property .............................................................................................37 Replevin ............................................................................................................................37 Unpaid Seller’s Lien .........................................................................................................38 Lis Pendens ......................................................................................................................39 Election Contests .................................................................................................................39 Actions on Bond ...................................................................................................................40 Contempt ..............................................................................................................................41 Agreed Cases ........................................................................................................................43 Change of Name ...................................................................................................................43 Removing Disability of Minors ............................................................................................44 Seizure & Forfeiture ............................................................................................................44 Firearm / Motor Vehicle Seizure & Forfeiture .................................................................44 Procedure ..........................................................................................................................44 Forefeiture Hearing ..........................................................................................................46 Forfeiture & Protective Orders ........................................................................................47 Forfeiture to Law Enforcement Agency ...........................................................................47 Sale Proceeds ....................................................................................................................48 Drug Forfeiture Proceedings ............................................................................................49 Other Crimes for Which Forfeiture Is Available .............................................................50 ii Extradition ...........................................................................................................................51 The Uniform Criminal Extradition Act ...........................................................................51 Arrest Warrant Issued by the Court ................................................................................52 Arrest Warrant Issued by Governor ................................................................................52 Waiver of Extradition .......................................................................................................52 Authority of Asylum State Court .....................................................................................53 Equity ...................................................................................................................................53 Preliminary Injunctions & Temporary Restraining Orders ...............................................53 Quiet Title ............................................................................................................................55