SB505 Alabama 2012 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Paul Bussman

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2012

Title

Child custody, parenting plan required, shared parenting time considered to be in best interest unless written findings otherwise, factors and contents, court to design plan where parties can not agree

Description

Under existing law, joint custody may include both joint legal and physical custody, only joint legal custody or only joint physical custody.

This bill would make the following legislative findings: (1) It is in the best interest of a child for the child to have a substantial and meaningful parent-child relationship with each parent. (2) A parent is presumed to act in the best interest of his or her child; therefore, child-rearing decisions should be made by the application and wisdom of both parents, absent clear convincing evidence of compelling reasons otherwise.

This bill would require a parenting plan in every case involving children with parents who are no longer living together. This bill would require the parenting plan to contain certain provisions including a designation of which parent may exercise primary parenting times and authority in making child-rearing decisions at designated times.

This bill would require reasonable and equitable parenting time when the parents are in disagreement, as to custody, absent written findings by the court of clear and convincing evidence that equitable parenting time would be detrimental to the child's best interest.

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Subjects

Child Custody