AL HB150

Requires married couples with minor children (16 years of age and under) to complete a four-hour marriage dissolution education program within 120 days before filing a divorce or separation petition.

Circuit court clerks cannot accept divorce petitions, joint petitions, marital termination agreements, or stipulated judgments unless accompanied by a completion certificate from an approved program.

Programs must be face-to-face or online and supervised by professional family life educators or licensed mental health professionals, with content including constructive parenting skills (at least 75% of program time), legal process information (at least 5%), and reconciliation resources (at least 5%).

Costs capped at $75 per four-hour program, with fee waivers available for individuals earning less than 200% of federal poverty guidelines or entitled to proceed in forma pauperis.

Judge may waive the requirement at their discretion if a party demonstrates it is not reasonably possible to complete the program due to language barriers, lack of internet access, domestic violence concerns, emergencies, or other circumstances.