Bill > HB18

This bill, known as The Good Dad Act, amends Alabama law to modify how paternity acknowledgments are viewed and how custody is determined. Specifically, the bill establishes that a valid paternity acknowledgment filed with the Alabama Office of Vital Statistics is now a legal finding of paternity that confers all parental rights and duties. Moreover, the bill creates new rebuttable presumptions for child custody proceedings involving acknowledged fathers. These presumptions include a preference for joint custody, equal rights and responsibilities for major child-related decisions, and equal shared physical custody when a parent lives within 40 miles of the child. The bill also stipulates that neither parent can remove the child from the state of residence without the other parent's consent or court permission. When evaluating these presumptions, courts must consider standard custody determination factors and those outlined in Section 30-3-152. The law will become effective on October 1, 2026, and aims to ensure acknowledged fathers have meaningful involvement in their children's lives while maintaining flexibility for case-specific considerations.

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