Bill > SB18

This bill amends Alabama's child support law to clarify and modify provisions related to paternity and child support proceedings. The bill allows child support orders entered within the first year after a child's birth to be retroactive up to nine months before the child's birth, while maintaining the existing two-year limit for retroactive support in other circumstances. The legislation provides detailed guidelines for how court fees and expenses in paternity cases should be handled, including provisions for parties who cannot afford these costs. The bill specifies that fees may be paid from a special fund in cases of financial hardship, with certain restrictions on which fees can be covered. It also clarifies that courts must determine support payments immediately upon establishing paternity and can order various provisions related to support, custody, and visitation. Importantly, the bill includes a provision explicitly stating that a child-support order cannot be issued if the child is not born alive. The bill will become effective on October 1, 2025, and aims to provide more clarity and flexibility in how child support and paternity cases are handled in Alabama.

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https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/bill-search