Kendra Duggar has officially secured independent legal representation as she prepares to face multiple criminal charges in Arkansas, signaling a strategic decoupling from her husband Joseph’s legal defense.
In a recorded jailhouse conversation obtained by PEOPLE, Kendra, 27, informed her husband that she has retained Travis Story to represent her. Story is a familiar figure to the family, having previously represented Joseph’s brother, Josh Duggar, during his 2021 federal trial.
“I’ve got him as my attorney now,” Kendra told Joseph during the call, placed just hours after her release from custody on March 20. “It’s not for you, it’s only for me.”
The couple faces a growing web of legal challenges across two states. On March 20, the Tontitown Police Department charged Kendra with:
- Four misdemeanor counts of endangering the welfare of a child.
- Four misdemeanor counts of false imprisonment.
While Joseph, 31, faces the same eight misdemeanor charges in Arkansas, his legal situation is further complicated by severe felony allegations in Florida. Authorities in Bay County have charged him with two felony counts of lewd and lascivious behavior.
A law enforcement source confirmed that the Arkansas misdemeanors—reportedly tied to a “case going with the kids”—are distinct from the Florida felony investigation.
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Joseph Duggar was extradited to Florida following his March 18 arrest in Arkansas. On March 31, a Florida judge set his bond at $600,000, barring him from unsupervised contact with minors. Records indicate he has since posted bond and is in the process of returning to Arkansas.
Kendra was released on bond just 90 minutes after her initial booking at the Washington County Detention Facility. During their conversation, Joseph praised the choice of counsel, stating, “I wasn’t sure who we settled with, but this guy’s good.”
The Duggar family patriarchs, Jim Bob and Michelle, issued a statement via a spokesperson expressing that they are “heartbroken” over the allegations. “Right now, they are focused on loving their family and helping Kendra and her children during this difficult time,” the statement read, adding that the family is “praying for the victim.”
Both Kendra and Joseph are scheduled to appear in an Arkansas court for an initial hearing on April 29, 2026. Joseph’s next appearance in the Florida felony case is slated for an arraignment on April 20.
