# Ark. Code Ann. § 12-18-803: Privileged communications as evidence - Exception

> Arkansas · Statutes · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AR_T12_C18_S8_S12-18-803

## Section

- **Citation:** Ark. Code Ann. § 12-18-803
- **Heading:** Privileged communications as evidence - Exception
- **Jurisdiction:** Arkansas
- **Kind:** Statutes
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** AR Code / Title 12 / Chapter 18 / Subchapter 8 / Section 12-18-803

## Text

(a) It is the public policy of the State of Arkansas to protect the health, safety, and the welfare of children within the state. (b) No privilege, except that between a lawyer and client or between a minister, including a Christian Science practitioner, and a person confessing to or being counseled by the minister shall prevent anyone from testifying concerning child maltreatment. (c) When a physician, psychologist, psychiatrist, or licensed counselor or therapist conducts interviews with or provides therapy to a subject of a report of suspected child maltreatment for purposes related to child maltreatment, the physician, psychologist, psychiatrist, or licensed counselor or therapist is deemed to be performing services on behalf of the child. (d) An adult subject of a report of suspected child maltreatment cannot invoke privilege on the child's behalf. Acts 2009, No. 749, § 1.

(a) It is the public policy of the State of Arkansas to protect the health, safety, and the welfare of children within the state.

(b) No privilege, except that between a lawyer and client or between a minister, including a Christian Science practitioner, and a person confessing to or being counseled by the minister shall prevent anyone from testifying concerning child maltreatment.

(c) When a physician, psychologist, psychiatrist, or licensed counselor or therapist conducts interviews with or provides therapy to a subject of a report of suspected child maltreatment for purposes related to child maltreatment, the physician, psychologist, psychiatrist, or licensed counselor or therapist is deemed to be performing services on behalf of the child.

(d) An adult subject of a report of suspected child maltreatment cannot invoke privilege on the child's behalf.

Acts 2009, No. 749, § 1.

## Nearby sections

- [Ark. Code Ann. § 12-18-801 Time to complete administrative hearing](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AR_T12_C18_S8_S12-18-801.md)
- [Ark. Code Ann. § 12-18-802 Subpoenas - Service upon a child](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AR_T12_C18_S8_S12-18-802.md)
- [Ark. Code Ann. § 12-18-803 Privileged communications as evidence - Exception](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AR_T12_C18_S8_S12-18-803.md)
- [Ark. Code Ann. § 12-18-804 Defenses and affirmative defenses](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AR_T12_C18_S8_S12-18-804.md)
- [Ark. Code Ann. § 12-18-805 Video teleconferencing and teleconferencing options](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AR_T12_C18_S8_S12-18-805.md)
- [Ark. Code Ann. § 12-18-806 Continuances](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AR_T12_C18_S8_S12-18-806.md)
- [Ark. Code Ann. § 12-18-807 Administrative judgments and adjudications](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AR_T12_C18_S8_S12-18-807.md)
- [Ark. Code Ann. § 12-18-808 Notice of juvenile division circuit court proceedings](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AR_T12_C18_S8_S12-18-808.md)
- [Ark. Code Ann. § 12-18-809 Confidentiality](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AR_T12_C18_S8_S12-18-809.md)
- [Ark. Code Ann. § 12-18-810 Authority to amend investigative determinations based on evidence](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AR_T12_C18_S8_S12-18-810.md)
- [Ark. Code Ann. § 12-18-811 Expedited administrative hearings - Definition](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AR_T12_C18_S8_S12-18-811.md)
- [Ark. Code Ann. § 12-18-812 Preliminary administrative hearing](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AR_T12_C18_S8_S12-18-812.md)
- [Ark. Code Ann. § 12-18-813 Notice of investigative determination upon satisfaction of due process](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AR_T12_C18_S8_S12-18-813.md)
- [Ark. Code Ann. § 12-18-814 Automatic hearings for juveniles](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AR_T12_C18_S8_S12-18-814.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AR_T12_C18_S8_S12-18-803. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.