AR HB1686

Adds a new subdivision to Arkansas Code § 9-12-315(a) establishing a presumption that property appreciation resulting from a spouse's time, effort, or skill during marriage is marital property, even if the property was acquired before marriage.

Amends Arkansas Code § 9-12-315(b)(5) to clarify that increases in value of pre-marital property, gifts, inherited property, life insurance proceeds, retirement accounts, and property acquired by survivorship are presumed marital property when the appreciation results from a spouse's time, effort, or skill.

Codifies the common law "active appreciation" doctrine established in Layman v. Layman (1987) in response to the Supreme Court case Moore v. Moore (2016) to ensure continuity and predictability in divorce property division proceedings.