SB65 Alabama 2020 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Clyde ChamblissSenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2020

Title

Child support, cases may not be dismissed for failure to serve within specified time period

Summary

SB 65 prevents courts from dismissing child support complaints solely because the summons and complaint were not served within a specified time.

What This Bill Does

The bill overrides Rule 4 and other court rules for child support cases to ensure a complaint cannot be dismissed just for late service of the summons or complaint. If enacted, child support cases would stay active even if service was not timely, allowing the case to proceed by other proper steps. The bill does not remove all other reasons a case could be dismissed. It becomes law on the first day of the third month after it passes and the governor approves it.

Who It Affects

• People who file child support complaints, who would not have their case dismissed simply because they did not serve the summons and complaint within a certain timeframe.
• Respondents/defendants named in child support cases, whose cases would remain active even if service was not timely.

Key Provisions

• Section 1: Notwithstanding Rule 4 of the Alabama Rules of Civil Procedure or any other applicable court rule, a child support complaint may not be dismissed for failure to serve the summons and complaint within any specified period of time.
• Section 2: This act shall become effective on the first day of the third month following its passage and approval by the Governor, or its otherwise becoming law.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 23, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Child Support