HB333 Summary

• Revises Alabama child custody law to require parents in all custody cases to submit a parenting plan, expanding the requirement beyond joint custody cases only.

• Court may establish a parenting plan when parties cannot agree, and requires parenting plans to cover care, education, medical/dental care, holidays, child support, transportation, and decision-making authority.

• Defines custody terminology including joint legal custody, joint physical custody, sole primary physical custody, restricted physical custody, and nonresidential custodial parent to align with case law standards.

• Establishes state policy favoring frequent and continuing contact between children and both parents, with joint custody not requiring equal physical custody time.

• Creates court remedies for parents who violate time-sharing schedules without proper cause, including makeup time sharing, court costs and attorney's fees, parenting courses, and reimbursement for actual costs incurred.

• Becomes effective January 1, 2017.