Default judgment in Arkansas: how to set it aside

Missed the deadline? Here is how to ask the court to cancel the default.

Checked against official sources: Oct 24, 2026.

Short answer

A default judgment means the court decided against you because you didn't answer. File a motion to set aside the default judgment under Ark. R. Civ. P. 55(c). The court can grant it for mistake, inadvertence, surprise or excusable neglect, if the judgment is void, for fraud or misconduct by the other side, or for any other reason justifying relief.

Time to answer
30 days

If you didn't answer in Arkansas

If you do not file an answer on time, the court can enter a default judgment against you for what the plaintiff asked for.

How to set aside a default in Arkansas

File a motion to set aside the default judgment under Ark. R. Civ. P. 55(c). The court can grant it for mistake, inadvertence, surprise or excusable neglect, if the judgment is void, for fraud or misconduct by the other side, or for any other reason justifying relief. You must also show you have a valid defense. File as soon as you learn of the judgment.

Law: Ark. R. Civ. P. 55(c); Ark. Dist. Ct. R. 8

Count your deadline to set aside a default

The date is counted in your browser.

The court's name is at the top of the judgment.

An estimate from our state data, not legal advice. Court holidays and local rules can change a deadline. File early, and ask the court clerk if you are not sure.

Interest and how long it lasts in Arkansas

Interest after the judgment

On a contract debt: the rate in the contract or the Federal Reserve primary credit rate on the day of judgment plus 2%, whichever is greater. It cannot be more than the maximum allowed by Arkansas Constitution Amendment 89.

How long it lasts

A judgment lasts 10 years from the date it was entered. The creditor can revive it before the 10 years end. A payment, or a writ of execution or garnishment, starts a new 10-year period (Primus Automotive Financial Services v. Wilburn, 2013 Ark. 258).

Law: Ark. Code Ann. § 16-65-114; Ark. Code Ann. § 16-56-114

After a judgment in Arkansas

If you are in the military

Before the court gives the plaintiff a default judgment, the plaintiff must file a sworn statement saying whether you are in military service.

Law: 50 U.S.C. 3931(b)(1)

Steps after a default in Arkansas

  1. Read the judgment

    The judgment's date matters. Ask the clerk for a copy.

  2. Act within the time limit

    The rule in Arkansas: File a motion to set aside the default judgment under Ark. R. Civ. P. 55(c).

  3. Give your reason and your defense

    Courts usually ask for a good reason and a real defense.

  4. Watch for garnishment

    Read After a judgment in Arkansas.

Free legal help in Arkansas

Questions about default judgments in Arkansas

How long do I have to answer a debt lawsuit in Arkansas?

30 days after you are served (60 days if you are in jail or prison in Arkansas). This is the same in Circuit Court and District Court, including small claims.

What if I miss the deadline in Arkansas?

If you do not file an answer on time, the court can enter a default judgment against you for what the plaintiff asked for.

How do I set aside a default in Arkansas?

File a motion to set aside the default judgment under Ark. R. Civ. P. 55(c). The court can grant it for mistake, inadvertence, surprise or excusable neglect, if the judgment is void, for fraud or misconduct by the other side, or for any other reason justifying relief. You must also show you have a valid defense. File as soon as you learn of the judgment.

Related Arkansas pages

Sources

Sources

Last checked: Oct 24, 2026.

Federal sources