Ala. Code
Code of Alabama

Ala. Code § 30-3-157 (2026)

Construction of Article with Respect to Existing Orders.

✓ official Alabama Legislature (ALISON) text, current July 2026
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This article shall not be construed as grounds for modification of an existing order. This article shall not be construed as affecting the standard applicable to a subsequent modification.

(Acts 1996, No. 96-520, p. 666, §8.)

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 8 cases, 2000–2018 · leading case: Gallant v. Gallant, 184 So. 3d 387 (Ala. Civ. App. 2014).
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Gallant v. Gallant, 184 So. 3d 387 (Ala. Civ. App. 2014). · cites it 4× “The last section of that article, Ala.Code 1975, § 30-3-157, specifically provides: “This article shall not be construed as grounds for modificatibn of an existing order.”
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.”
Williams v. Williams, 75 So. 3d 132 (Ala. Civ. App. 2011). “Section 30-3-151 provides: “For the purposes of this article [Title 30, Chapter 3, Article 7, § 30-3-150 through § 30-3-157, entitled ‘Joint Custody’] the following words shall have the following meanings: "(1) Joint custody.”
S.M.M. v. J.D.K., 208 So. 3d 1118 (Ala. Civ. App. 2015). · cites it 3× “Although not directly applicable to modification judgments, see Ala.Code 1975, § 30-3-157, that statute is consistent with the common-law principle that a noncustodial parent should generally be afforded “reasonable rights of visitation” with his or her children, Naylor v.”
A.M.J. v. K.D.J., 777 So. 2d 146 (Ala. Civ. App. 2000). “” Therefore, we will apply the “best-interests” standard to the mother’s petition to modify the joint-custody provision.”
Bosarge v. Bosarge, 267 So. 3d 868 (Ala. Civ. App. 2018). · cites it 2× “' Ala. Code 1975, § 30-3-150. Although not directly applicable to modification judgments, see Ala.”
Bosarge v. Bosarge, 267 So. 3d 868 (Ala. Civ. App. 2018). · cites it 2× “' Ala. Code 1975, § 30-3-150. Although not directly applicable to modification judgments, see Ala.”
Amj v. Kdj, 777 So. 2d 146 (Ala. Civ. App. 2000). “" Therefore, we will apply the "best-interests" standard to the mother's petition to modify the joint-custody provision.”
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