SB191 Alabama 2017 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Vivian Davis FiguresSenator

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2017

Title

Child custody, parenting plan required in all cases, court established plan in certain cases, remedies for violations of plan, Sec. 30-3-158 added; Secs. 30-3-150, 30-3-151, 30-3-152, 30-3-153 am'd.

Summary

SB191 would require parenting plans in all child custody cases, redefine custody terminology toward shared responsibility, and give courts new tools to enforce time-sharing.

What This Bill Does

The bill requires all custody cases to have a parenting plan, and allows the court to set one if the parents cannot agree. It updates custody terms to emphasize joint and shared rights and responsibilities rather than one parent having sole custody. The plan must cover who cares for the child, education, health care, holidays, transportation, and how costs and decision-making are shared, with the court able to consider various factors to establish it. It also adds enforcement options for when a parent does not follow the time-sharing schedule, such as makeup time, orders to pay costs or fees, required parenting courses, and other remedies.

Who It Affects

• Parents involved in child custody proceedings, who must prepare and potentially have a court-ordered parenting plan and may face remedies for noncompliance.
• Children involved in these custody cases, who would have more clearly defined time with each parent and protections to ensure stable schedules.

Key Provisions

• Revises custody definitions to support joint custody concepts and move away from sole physical custody with visitation.
• Requires a parenting plan in every custody case; court can establish a plan if the parties cannot agree.
• Parenting plan contents include: care and education, medical/dental care, holidays and vacations, transportation, child support, communication methods, and designation of which parent handles major decisions if parties disagree.
• The court may grant joint custody or other custody forms based on the best interests of the child, using listed factors such as cooperation, child needs, abuse history, and proximity; if both request joint custody, joint custody is presumed best unless specific findings say otherwise.
• If both parents submit the same plan, it is presumed to be in the child’s best interest and should be granted unless the court finds reasons not to.
• Adds Section 30-3-158 allowing remedies for noncompliance with time-sharing, including makeup time, payment of costs/fees, court-approved parenting courses, and other remedies, in addition to contempt.
• Effective date: January 1, 2018.

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