What are the grounds for divorce in Alabama?
According to Alabama divorce law, a divorce may be granted in Alabama for any of the following grounds:
- physical and incurable incapacitation at time of marriage
- adultery
- voluntary abandonment for one year
- imprisonment for two years
- crime against nature
- drug or alcohol addiction
- complete incompatibility of temperament
- confinement to a mental hospital for five years with no hope of recovery
- irretrievable breakdown of the marriage
- if the wife was pregnant at the time of the marriage, unbeknownst to the husband
- physical abuse
- living separate and apart for two years without support.
Annulment
In Alabama divorce law, the court declares the marriage contract broken; in an annulment, the court says that there never was a marriage. Annulment is much more difficult to prove — and is much rarer — than divorce. If you want to go this route, you will definitely need to speak to an attorney. Of course, if you want an annulment for religious reasons, you’ll need to consult with your priest, minister, or rabbi as well.
Documentation
You’ll need to provide your divorce lawyer with the following documentation in order to proceed with your dissolution, as per Alabama divorce law. Start gathering everything together as soon as possible so that you can find out what might be missing and submit any requests for duplicates.
Personal Data
- Full addresses and phone numbers of both parties.
- Full names, birth dates, and addresses of all children of the marriage, their school, and grade.
- Information about any prior marriage of either spouse, including a certified copy of the divorce decree.
- A copy of any domestic contracts (e.g. a prenuptial agreement).
- Information about any previous legal proceedings between the spouses or involving any of the children.
- Dates and particulars about any previous separations attempts at reconciliation, or marriage counseling.
Financial Data
- Your previous year’s income tax return, and any related data from the IRS.
- Information about your current income, e.g. a current payslip.
- A list of substantial assets and liabilities of both spouses.
In my sweet home state, a husband can have his wife court ordered to a mental health facility when the marriage is difficult. Of course a psychiatrist can have you drugged without consent while you are there, then on the way out tell you there is nothing wrong with you except your civil rights have been violated.