SB222 Alabama 2015 Session

Updated Feb 27, 2026

Notable

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Greg AlbrittonSenator
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2015
Title: Probate, inheritance, ownership of certain inter-vivos assets upon divorce or annulment
Summary: SB222 revokes certain transfers to an ex-spouse and changes joint ownership with survivorship into equal ownership as tenants in common after divorce or annulment.
What This Bill Does
After divorce or annulment, it revokes revocable dispositions, appointments, and fiduciary nominations in favor of the former spouse or their relatives. It also converts property held as joint tenants with right of survivorship into equal tenants in common. The law protects third parties acting in good faith on apparent title before notice, and there are rules about how revoked provisions are treated, with certain exceptions for insurance policies.

Who It Affects
Divorced individuals: face revocation of certain benefits to their former spouse or relatives and conversion of joint property into equal ownership.
Former spouses and their relatives: may lose certain powers, ownership interests, and fiduciary roles previously designated.
Third parties (buyers, lenders, payors): protected when acting in good faith before notice; may have to address changes if notice of divorce is received.
Insurance policy beneficiaries: exception; the revocation does not apply to policies where the former spouse is named beneficiary and remains owner or pays premiums.

Key Provisions
Revocation of revocable dispositions, appointments, and fiduciary nominations to the ex-spouse or the ex-spouse's relatives upon divorce or annulment.
Severance of property held as joint tenants with right of survivorship, transforming interests into equal tenancies in common.
Protection for third parties who rely in good faith on apparent title; liability rules tied to notice of divorce, annulment, or remarriage.
Provisions revoked are treated as if the ex-spouse and their relatives disclaimed or the ex-spouse died immediately before the divorce or annulment; revival upon remarriage or nullification.
Exceptions for insurance policies where the former spouse remains owner or continues premium payments; exclusion from the revocation.
Effective date: the act becomes law on the first day of the third month after passage and governor 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: Court, Probate