HB507 Alabama 2015 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Mike Jones

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2015

Title

Alimony, interim, rehabilitative, and periodic awards of, authorized under certain conditions

Summary

HB507 would allow interim alimony and related costs in certain Alabama divorce actions after Jan 1, 2016, and would establish rehabilitative or periodic alimony after divorce with rules for modification and termination.

What This Bill Does

It permits interim alimony in divorce, legal separation, or annulment cases filed after January 1, 2016 if the marriage remains valid, the recipient needs support, and the other spouse has the ability to pay. It also authorizes the court to award reasonable interim fees, costs, and litigation expenses to ensure both parties have access to marital property. After divorce or legal separation, the bill requires rehabilitative or periodic alimony based on specific conditions, with rehabilitation favored for up to five years (unless extraordinary circumstances exist) and periodic alimony if rehabilitation is not feasible, along with rules for modification and termination and possible reserving of jurisdiction.

Who It Affects

• Spouses who file for divorce, legal separation, or annulment after January 1, 2016 (and may be eligible to receive interim alimony and rehabilitative or periodic alimony).
• Spouses who may be required to pay interim alimony and/or interim fees and costs, based on their ability to pay and the court’s awards.

Key Provisions

• Interim alimony may be awarded in actions for divorce, legal separation, or annulment filed after January 1, 2016 if (a) the marriage remains valid, (b) the spouse needs interim alimony, and (c) the other spouse has the ability to pay.
• An interim alimony award may be retroactive to the date the complaint was filed.
• Interim alimony can be terminated or modified before final judgment for good cause; emergency orders may be issued or modified without notice under certain conditions.
• Interim alimony ends automatically when final judgment is entered, the case is voluntarily dismissed, or proceedings abate, with limited exceptions for ongoing appeals and arrearage collection.
• Courts may award interim fees, costs, and litigation expenses (such as discovery, expert witnesses, guardians ad litem, special masters, and attorney fees) to ensure equitable access to marital property during the action.
• Upon granting a divorce or legal separation, the court must award rehabilitative or periodic alimony if the party lacks a sufficient separate estate and the other party can provide support without undue hardship, and the arrangement is equitable.
• Rehabilitative alimony is the preferred form for a limited duration (generally up to five years) to help the recipient regain ability to maintain the economic status quo; if rehabilitation is not feasible, periodic alimony may be awarded for a duration and amount to preserve the status quo.
• If rehabilitation is not possible or feasible, or if there are special circumstances, the court may reserve jurisdiction to award rehabilitative or periodic alimony in the future.
• Several factors are used to decide alimony amounts and eligibility, including length of the marriage, standard of living, ages and health, future employment prospects, and contributions to the other's education or career.
• Periodic alimony is usually limited to the length of the marriage, unless the marriage lasted 20 years or longer, in which case there is no time limit.
• Alimony awards may be modified for a material change in circumstances and end upon the death of either spouse.
• The act applies only to actions filed after January 1, 2016; it does not affect cases filed before that date.

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