In October 2013, the Alabama Supreme Court delivered a landmark ruling that fundamentally transformed family law across the state. The court’s decision in Ex parte Carolyn Sue Christopher overturned 24 years of established precedent that had allowed judges to order divorced parents to pay college expenses for their adult children. One mother’s refusal to contribute…
In Alabama courtrooms, the consequences of unpaid child support extend far beyond the original missed payments. When a parent falls behind, each missed payment automatically transforms into a final judgment that accrues statutory interest at 12% annually. As highlighted in a significant 2002 Alabama Court of Civil Appeals case, even when a father was found…
“I cannot say that the trial court’s judgment was plainly and palpably wrong under the law as it stands now; therefore, I have no choice but to concur, albeit reluctantly,” wrote Alabama Court of Civil Appeals Judge Monroe in Anderson v. Loper. His special concurrence revealed his belief that requiring parents to support an 18-year-old…
“I just want to draw attention to the fact that what we’re doing is pretty outlandish here,” declared Tennessee Senator Jeff Yarbro during a heated debate over parental rights legislation in 2024. Though speaking about a different issue, his words resonate with many emancipated minors in Alabama who discover that legal independence brings unexpected challenges…
“I think we’ve got to be practical about this. The majority of parents care about their kids, and are not abusing their kids,” stated Alabama Senator Sam Givhan during a recent legislative debate over minors’ rights. His words echo the tension at the heart of Alabama’s emancipation laws—where the desire to protect parental authority collides…
At 17, Denina Anderson moved out of her mother’s home to live with her boyfriend against both parents’ wishes. She enrolled in community college, worked part-time, and purchased a car. Despite these adult actions, the Alabama Court of Civil Appeals ruled she wasn’t emancipated, and her father still owed child support. Every year, hundreds of…
In a small county jail in northern Alabama, 17-year-old Djovani Jean-Pierre marked his birthday behind bars. For over six months, this Haitian-American teen languished in adult detention, charged as an adult and unable to return to his education. His situation highlights the stark legal reality many Alabama minors face: without emancipation, they remain subject to…
Behind closed doors across Alabama, couples facing the end of their marriages often confront the financial reality of getting a divorce. What many don’t realize is that the final price tag depends largely on choices made in the early stages. While some Alabama residents emerge from divorce with savings intact, others face years of financial…
Alabama courts once automatically favored mothers in custody disputes, with 8 out of 10 mothers receiving primary custody before 1980 due to the “Tender Years” doctrine. Today’s reality looks dramatically different. Alabama has evolved from traditional “mother state” presumptions to a gender-neutral approach emphasizing the best interests of children above all else. How Alabama Courts…
The courthouse clock ticks differently for different divorces. While some couples spend years entangled in legal proceedings, others finalize their separation in as little as 30 days. This stark contrast often comes down to whether a divorce qualifies as “simple” under Alabama law. The difference can mean thousands in legal fees saved and months of…
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