HB18 • 2026

Acknowledgement of paternity; certain rebuttable presumptions relating to the best interest of a child, created

Children

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Sellers
Last action: 2026-01-13
Official status: Pending Committee Action in House of Origin
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official metadata lists the last action as 'Pending Committee Action,' which conflicts with the bill text stating it becomes effective on October 1, 2026. The law is not yet active.

The Good Dad Act: Presumptions for Fathers Who Acknowledge Paternity

This law creates legal assumptions that favor joint custody and shared parenting time when a father has signed a valid voluntary acknowledgment of paternity.

What This Bill Does

Creates a presumption in court cases about child custody, visitation, or support that joint custody is in the child's best interest if there is a valid acknowledgment of paternity.
Presumes that if a parent lives within 40 miles of their child, both parents have equal rights for major decisions and equally shared physical custody.
Establishes a presumption that neither parent can move the child out of state without permission from the other parent or the court.
Allows these presumptions to be challenged in court if evidence shows they are not in the best interest of the child.

Who It Names or Affects

Fathers who have signed a valid voluntary acknowledgment of paternity filed with the Alabama Office of Vital Statistics.
Mothers involved in custody, visitation, or support cases where an acknowledged father exists.
Courts deciding on child custody and relocation matters under this law.

Terms To Know

Acknowledgment of paternity: A legal form signed by a man to say he is the biological father, which gives him all rights and duties of a parent when filed with the state.
Rebuttable presumption: A rule that courts must follow unless someone provides enough evidence to prove it should not apply in their case.
Joint custody: An arrangement where both parents share the responsibility of making major decisions for the child and sharing physical time with them.

Limits and Unknowns

The law does not apply to cases involving domestic or family violence.
Courts can still decide against these presumptions if they find evidence that joint custody is not in the child's best interest based on specific factors.

Bill History

2026-01-13 House
Pending Committee Action in House of Origin
2026-01-13 House
Read for the first time and referred to the House Committee on Judiciary

Official Summary Text

Acknowledgement of paternity; certain rebuttable presumptions relating to the best interest of a child, created

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB18 INTRODUCED
Page 0
HB18
SL3S155-1
By Representative Sellers
RFD: Judiciary
First Read: 13-Jan-26
PFD: 25-Jun-25
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SL3S155-1 05/23/2025 GP (L)lg 2025-1986
Page 1
PFD: 25-Jun-25
SYNOPSIS:
Under existing law, after the birth of a child
to an unmarried woman in a hospital, an alleged father
may execute a voluntary acknowledgment of paternity
with consent of the mother. An acknowledgment of
paternity constitutes a legal finding of paternity and
confers all rights and duties of a parent on the
acknowledged father.
This bill would provide that, in any proceeding
relating to child custody, visitation rights, or child
support, a valid voluntary acknowledgment of paternity
creates certain rebuttable presumptions in favor of
joint custody and shared parenting time.
This bill would create a rebuttable presumption
in those proceedings that a parent may not remove the
child from the state without the permission of the
other parent or the court.
This bill would also provide exceptions for
cases involving domestic or family violence.
A BILL
TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
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HB18 INTRODUCED
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Relating to child custody; to amend Section 26-17-305,
Code of Alabama 1975; to create certain rebuttable
presumptions relating to the best interest of a child in
proceedings where a valid acknowledgment of paternity exists;
and to provide exceptions.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:
Section 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as
The Good Dad Act.
Section 2. Section 26-17-305, Code of Alabama 1975, is
amended to read as follows:
"§26-17-305
(a) Except as otherwise provided in Sections 26-17-307
and 26-17-308, a valid acknowledgment of paternity filed with
the Alabama Office of Vital Statistics shall be considered is
a legal finding of paternity of a child and confers upon the
acknowledged father all of the rights and duties of a parent.
(b) An acknowledgment of paternity shall be is a
legally sufficient basis for establishing an obligation for
child support and for the expenses of the mother's pregnancy
and confinement.
(c)(1) Except as provided in Section 30-3-131, in any
proceeding related to child custody, visitation rights, or
child support, an acknowledgment of paternity creates a
presumption, rebuttable by a preponderance of evidence, that
each of the following are in the best interest of the child:
a. Joint custody.
b. That if a parent lives within 40 miles of his or her
child, both parents are entitled to equal rights and
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HB18 INTRODUCED
Page 3
child, both parents are entitled to equal rights and
responsibilities for major decisions concerning the child and
equally shared joint physical custody.
c. That neither parent may remove the child from the
state of residence without consent of the other parent or
permission from the court.
(2) In determining whether the presumptions provided in
subdivision (1) are in the best interest of the child, the
court shall consider the same factors considered in awarding
any other custody arrangement and the factors provided in
Section 30-3-152.
(3) For the purposes of this subsection, the term
"parent" refers to an acknowledged father and a mother. "
Section 3. This act shall become effective on October
1, 2026.
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