Code of Alabama

Ala. Code § 30-3-150 (2026)

State Policy.

✓ official Alabama Legislature (ALISON) text, current July 2026
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Joint Custody. It is the policy of this state to assure that minor children have frequent and continuing contact with parents who have shown the ability to act in the best interest of their children and to encourage parents to share in the rights and responsibilities of rearing their children after the parents have separated or dissolved their marriage. Joint custody does not necessarily mean equal physical custody.

(Acts 1996, No. 96-520, p. 666, §1.)

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 61 cases (2 in the last 5 years), 1997–2024 · leading case: Lackey v. Lackey, 18 So. 3d 393 (Ala. Civ. App. 2009).
Lackey v. Lackey, 18 So. 3d 393 (Ala. Civ. App. 2009). · cites it 10× “Alabama Code 1975, § 30-3-150, provides: "It is the policy of this state to assure that minor children have frequent and continuing contact with parents who have shown the ability to act in the best interest of their children and to encourage parents to share in the rights and…”
Gallant v. Gallant, 184 So. 3d 387 (Ala. Civ. App. 2014). · cites it 7× “The Joint-Custody Law Alabama Code 1975, § 30-3-150, provides, in pertinent part: “It is the policy of this state to assure that 'minor children have frequent and continuing contact with parents who have shown the ability to act in the best interest of their children and to…”
Meadows v. Meadows, 3 So. 3d 221 (Ala. Civ. App. 2008). · cites it 10× “, which embodies our state's policy that "children have frequent and continuing contact with [their] parents," § 30-3-150, and the Alabama Parent-Child Relationship Protection Act ("the Act"), codified at Ala.”
Cochran v. Cochran, 5 So. 3d 1220 (Ala. 2008). · cites it 4× “" [6] Joint physical custody is especially favored in Alabama, see Ala.Code 1975, § 30-3-150 et seq., though the joint-custody statutes do not alter the applicable standard for modifying custody.”
Pratt v. Pratt, 56 So. 3d 638 (Ala. Civ. App. 2010). · cites it 2× “In fashioning the appropriate restrictions, out of respect for the public policy encouraging interaction between noncustodial parents and their children, see Ala.Code 1975, § 30-3-150 (addressing joint custody), and § 30-3-160 (addressing Alabama Parent-Child Relationship…”
E.F.B. v. L.S.T., 157 So. 3d 917 (Ala. Civ. App. 2014). · cites it 4× ““We begin our analysis with Alabama’s joint-custody statute, Ala.Code 1975, §§ 30-3-150 through -157. Section 30-3-151(3) defines ‘joint physical custody’ as “ ‘[pjhysical custody .”
Whitehead v. Whitehead, 214 So. 3d 367 (Ala. Civ. App. 2016). · cites it 2× “The Alabama joint-custody statutes, codified at Ala.Code 1975, § 30-3-150 et seq., define joint custody as “[j]oint legal custody and joint physical custody.”
Watkins v. Lee, 227 So. 3d 84 (Ala. Civ. App. 2017). · cites it 2× “In fashioning the appropriate restrictions, out of respect for the public policy encouraging interaction between the noncustodial parents and their children,' see Ala. Code 1975, § 30-3-150 (addressing joint custody), and § 30-3-160 (addressing Alabama Parent-Child Relationship…”
Faellaci v. Faellaci, 98 So. 3d 521 (Ala. Civ. App. 2012). · cites it 3× “’ “Ala.Code 1975, § 30-3-150. Pursuant to that policy, Ala.”
C.W.S. v. C.M.P., 99 So. 3d 864 (Ala. Civ. App. 2012). · cites it 2× “In fashioning the appropriate restrictions, out of respect for the public policy encouraging interaction between noncustodial parents and their children, see Ala.Code 1975, § 30-3-150 (addressing joint custody), and § 30-3-160 (addressing Alabama Parent-Child Relationship…”
Cleveland v. Cleveland, 18 So. 3d 950 (Ala. Civ. App. 2009). · cites it 2× “” Ala.Code 1975, § 30-3-150. Pursuant to that policy, Ala.”
Knight v. Knight, 53 So. 3d 942 (Ala. Civ. App. 2010). · cites it 3× “In the Act, our legislature set forth the general philosophy of the State of Alabama that was initially established in § 30-3-150, Ala.Code 1975, which is “that children need both parents, even after a divorce.”
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