MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WDNews) – Alabama legislators are set to review a bill next week that could expand custody rights for unmarried fathers.
Known as the “Good Dad Act,” the bill was pre-filed in November and would grant specific custody rights to fathers who voluntarily acknowledge paternity. If passed, it would allow unmarried fathers living within 40 miles of their child to share custody, with exceptions in cases involving domestic violence.
The proposed legislation also includes a provision requiring both parents to be notified before a child is permanently moved out of state. Additionally, it mandates that judges consider joint custody as the preferred arrangement unless there is a significant reason to rule otherwise.
State Representative Patrick Sellers, who introduced the bill, emphasized the importance of children having equal access to both parents.
“There has to be 50/50 sharing of time,” Sellers said. “If both parents are together, the child has consistency. But when one parent only gets four days a month while the other gets 26, that’s lopsided. You can’t properly raise a child that way.”
Sellers has also introduced a related bill that would require judges to prioritize joint custody in divorce cases unless there is a valid reason to do otherwise, such as a history of violence.
Both bills are expected to be discussed when the 2025 Alabama legislative session begins on Tuesday, Feb. 4.
