{"data":{"id":"us-ar/ark.-code-ann.-9-20-109","jurisdiction":"us-ar","citation":"Ark. Code Ann. § 9-20-109","heading":"Commencement of proceedings","body":"(a) Proceedings shall be commenced by filing a petition with the clerk of the probate division of circuit court. (b) Only the Department of Human Services may file a petition seeking ex parte emergency relief. (c) No fees may be charged or collected by the clerk in cases brought by the department, including, but not limited to: (1) Fees for filing; (2) Summons; or (3) Subpoenas. (d) The court shall immediately appoint the Arkansas Public Defender Commission to represent the maltreated adult if: (1) There is reasonable cause to believe the maltreated adult is indigent; or (2) The maltreated adult's liberty interest is in jeopardy and the financial condition of the maltreated adult is undetermined. Acts 2005, No. 1811, § 1; 2009, No. 526, § 4\n\n(a) Proceedings shall be commenced by filing a petition with the clerk of the probate division of circuit court.\n\n(b) Only the Department of Human Services may file a petition seeking ex parte emergency relief.\n\n(c) No fees may be charged or collected by the clerk in cases brought by the department, including, but not limited to: (1) Fees for filing; (2) Summons; or (3) Subpoenas.\n\n(1) Fees for filing;\n\n(2) Summons; or\n\n(3) Subpoenas.\n\n(d) The court shall immediately appoint the Arkansas Public Defender Commission to represent the maltreated adult if: (1) There is reasonable cause to believe the maltreated adult is indigent; or (2) The maltreated adult's liberty interest is in jeopardy and the financial condition of the maltreated adult is undetermined.\n\n(1) There is reasonable cause to believe the maltreated adult is indigent; or\n\n(2) The maltreated adult's liberty interest is in jeopardy and the financial condition of the maltreated adult is undetermined.","path":["AR Code","Title 9","Chapter 20"],"source_url":"https://oss-data-us.vaquill.ai/v2026.08/us_ar_statutes.parquet","current_through":"2026-08-14","vintage":"open-us-law v2026.08, retrieved 2026-09-14","retrieved_at":"2026-09-14T18:32:41Z","sha256":"595fac5156b6b72b8909308eeab6acc276855f0090f6809c14fc86f14c9d6534","source_id":"us-ar","stale":false,"prev":"us-ar/ark.-code-ann.-9-20-108","next":"us-ar/ark.-code-ann.-9-20-110"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}