Arkansas Debt Collection Laws

Today, February 7, 2013, The National List of Attorneys published the white paper on debt collection law in Arkansas, written by associate attorney Morgan S. Doughty and her law firm, Hood & Stacy, P.A.

Morgan graduated from the University of Arkansas in 2007 with a degree in International Economics & Business.  She obtained her J.D. from the University of Arkansas in 2010, where she served as a Note & Comment Editor of “The Journal of Food Law & Policy” and graduated with honors. She is licensed to practice in the state of Arkansas and the Federal Courts for the Eastern and Western Districts. The Hood & Stacy law firm has been a member of The National List of Attorneys for six years. Hood & Stacy is a member of the National Assoc. of Retail Collection Attorneys (NARCA), and Morgan is a member of the Benton County Bar Assoc. She was previously a member of the Crawford County Bar Assoc. and served as Treasurer.

Morgan has been working in the debt collection industry with Hood & Stacy for almost two years, where at least 85 percent of her law practice is dedicated to debt collection. She enjoys negotiating with opposing counsel and the challenge of getting the best outcome for her clients. She told NL, “Interestingly enough, debt collection has taught me to be more compassionate towards people, and that there truly are people out there that have experienced unforeseen, devastating events that resulted in them being in overwhelming debt. I’ve learned to treat every interaction with a debtor or his or her counsel with no preconceived notions. Every case is unique and as such, must be handled in a unique way.”

Morgan Doughty

When asked what creditors need to know that makes debt collection unique in Arizona, Morgan replied, “Arkansas is a rural state that has a large number of courts for its population as well as two separate types of civil courts. Arkansas Judges work independently from one another and therefore many require an approach that is unique only to them. It is vital to know what each court/judge expects as far as what evidence is required to prove a case. Arkansas is a debtor-friendly state, for the most part.”

Since 1981, Hood & Stacy, P.A. has been serving the needs of a broad range of clients in the areas of creditor bankruptcy, commercial and retail collections, mortgage foreclosures, landlord-tenant relations, corporate business, wills, probates, and real estate. Their lawyers are committed to servicing their clients by performing legal work in the states of Arkansas and Oklahoma. They know there are many choices when choosing a law firm, but the attorneys and staff at Hood & Stacy can offer specific advantages that other firms cannot. Some of their advantages are location, experience, diversity, technology and personalized service. Hood & Stacy, P.A. received the Trak America Small Market Volume Partner of the Year award in 2009.

Morgan lives in Bentonville Arkansas. When not working, she volunteers at local animal shelters and enjoys being with friends, family and her pets. Her firm supports the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, and she was chosen to participate in the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Event “Walk this Way with the Finest” in 2012.

The National List thanks Morgan for submitting this paper and for giving us the chance to get to know her a little better.  You can access the paper at http://www.nationallist.com/white_papers/Arkansas.