HB395 Alabama 2014 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Phil Williams

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2014

Title

Alimony, payments limited to five years or to length of the marriage whichever is the greater length of time, Sec. 30-2-55 am'd.

Summary

HB395 would change Alabama’s alimony rules to cap payments at the greater of five years or the marriage length, while preserving existing termination rules if the recipient remarries or cohabits.

What This Bill Does

It amends Section 30-2-55 to set the maximum alimony duration as the greater of five years or the marriage length. Alimony can still terminate if the recipient remarries or openly cohabits with a member of the opposite sex. The rule applies to all divorce decrees, whether issued before or after 1978, and any alimony already paid does not have to be reimbursed. The act becomes effective on the first day of the third month after it passes and the governor signs it.

Who It Affects

• Paying spouses: their obligation to pay alimony would be limited by the new rule to the greater of five years or the length of the marriage.
• Recipients of alimony: their alimony payments would be governed by the new duration limit and would end if remarriage or open cohabitation occurs; past payments do not have to be reimbursed.

Key Provisions

• Amends Section 30-2-55 to limit alimony payments to five years or to the length of the marriage, whichever is greater.
• Maintains termination rules: alimony ends if the recipient remarries or openly cohabits with a member of the opposite sex.
• Applies to all divorce decrees, whether issued before or after April 28, 1978.
• No requirement to reimburse alimony that has already been received.
• Effective date: becomes effective on the first day of the third month after passage and governor's approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Family Law