2010 Arkansas Code
Title 18 - Property
Subtitle 2 - Real Property
Chapter 16 - Landlord and Tenant
Subchapter 5 - Tenant Liability -- Eviction
§ 18-16-506 - Written objection.

18-16-506. Written objection.

(a) If within five (5) days, excluding Sundays and legal holidays, following service of this summons, complaint, and notice seeking a writ of possession against the defendants named in the complaint the defendant or defendants have not filed a written objection to the claim for a writ of possession made by the plaintiff in his or her complaint, the clerk of the court shall immediately issue a writ of possession directed to the sheriff of the county or the police chief of the city commanding him or her to cause the defendant or defendants to vacate the property described in the complaint without delay, which the sheriff or police chief shall execute in the manner described in 18-16-507.

(b) (1) If a written objection to the claim of the plaintiff for a writ of possession is filed by the defendant or defendants within five (5) days after the date of service of the notice, summons, and complaint as provided for in this section, the plaintiff shall obtain a date for the hearing of the plaintiff's demand for a writ of possession of the property described in the complaint after the defendant or defendants have timely answered the complaint.

(2) (A) If a hearing described in subdivision (b)(1) of this section is required, at the hearing the plaintiff shall present evidence sufficient to make a prima facie case of the criminal activity that has been facilitated at the property described in the complaint.

(B) The defendant or defendants shall be entitled to present evidence in rebuttal of the plaintiff's case.

(3) If the court decides upon all the evidence that the plaintiff is entitled to a writ of possession under state law, then the court shall order the clerk of the court to immediately issue a writ of possession to the sheriff of the county or the police chief of the city to evict the defendant or defendants, as provided for in 18-16-507.