AL SB388

Requires married couples with minor children (age 16 and under) to complete a four-hour marriage dissolution education program within 120 days before filing divorce or separation pleadings, with circuit court clerks prohibited from accepting filings without completion certificates.

Allows judges discretionary authority to waive the requirement if a party submits a "Certificate of Impossibility" citing language barriers, lack of course access, safety concerns from spouse behavior, emergencies, or other hardships.

Programs may be delivered face-to-face or online and must be supervised by professional family life educators, covering constructive parenting (75% of content), legal process information (5%), and reconciliation options (5%), consistent with evidence-based practices.

Participants must pay program costs capped at $75 per person, with fee waivers mandatory for individuals earning below 200% of federal poverty guidelines or eligible for in forma pauperis status.

Act becomes effective January 1, 2014, applying only to divorce and separation proceedings where initial pleadings are filed after the effective date.