Child custody; rebuttable presumption of joint custody provided, definitions relating to joint custody further provided for, joint custody model parenting plan required in certain divorce cases, penalties for certain unsupported motions provided

HB 147 would establish a legal presumption that joint custody is in a child’s best interest, requiring courts to explain in writing why they deviate from this standard - except in cases of domestic or family abuse. The bill defines "frequent and substantial contact" as equal or near-equal time with both parents and mandates that all divorce cases include a joint custody parenting plan. Courts must document their reasoning for rejecting joint custody, and parents face penalties for filing baseless motions to block it. The law also specifies remedies for violations of parenting schedules, such as makeup time or reimbursement for costs. This bill directly affects divorcing parents and family courts in Alabama, aiming to standardize custody decisions around joint parenting where safe.