Alabama Court & Family Education Guide
Information for anyone navigating a court order, custody case, or probation requirement in Alabama that involves anger management, parenting, co-parenting, or substance-abuse education.
What does Clearway offer?
People are sometimes ordered or referred to an educational program as part of a family-law, custody, probation, or other Alabama court-related matter. The type of program required can depend on the circumstances of the case and the exact wording of the court order.
Clearway Institute offers four self-paced online courses: anger management, parenting, co-parenting, and substance-abuse education. Not every course is appropriate for every court order, and completing an online course does not automatically mean a particular Alabama court, probation department, or agency will accept it — always read your order carefully and confirm the required program with the court, probation officer, attorney, or other referring agency when you're not sure.
Which type of class do you need?
Start with whichever matches your order or situation — each course page has the full curriculum before you enroll.
What if a Alabama court ordered it?
Alabama's domestic violence sections, Ala. Code §§ 13A-6-130 to 13A-6-132, set offense classes and minimum jail terms for repeat or protection-order cases, but the text reviewed does not name a specific anger-management or batterer-intervention requirement. Counseling can still be imposed by the sentencing judge, for example as a probation condition. Third-degree domestic violence is a Class A misdemeanor, and a third or later conviction is a Class C felony.
On the civil side, the Protection From Abuse Act (§ 30-5-1 et seq.) lets a court issue protection orders, and § 30-5-7 allows no-contact, distance, temporary custody and similar terms. In custody disputes, a finding of domestic or family violence raises a rebuttable presumption under § 30-3-131. Orders vary by case, so confirm exactly what your own order requires before enrolling in any course.
What's the difference between classes?
Parenting vs. co-parenting. Parenting covers general child-development, discipline, and communication skills, and comes up in a wide range of family cases. Co-parenting is built specifically for separated or divorcing parents — coordinating two households, handling custody transitions, and keeping kids out of the middle — and is the more common requirement in a custody or divorce order.
Anger management vs. a certified intervention program. Many states, Alabama included, treat general educational anger-management coursework as legally distinct from a state-certified batterer intervention, family-violence intervention, or abuser-treatment program ordered specifically in a domestic-violence case — see “What if a Alabama court ordered it?” above for how that distinction works here. If your order names a specific certified program by name, an educational anger-management course usually isn't an automatic substitute — check with your court.
Where can I verify requirements?
The most reliable answer always comes from whoever issued your order — the court clerk, your probation or parole officer, your attorney, or the agency that referred you. Below are free, Alabama-specific places to start if you need legal help, counseling, or crisis support along the way.
Legal reference material
For anyone who wants to read the underlying statutes for themselves, here is the reference material this guide is based on — Alabama civil and family-law sections first, then criminal law.
Civil & family law
Custody and domestic or family violenceAla. Code §§ 30-3-130 to 30-3-135
In a contested custody case, a court determination that domestic or family violence occurred raises a rebuttable presumption against placing the child with the perpetrator in sole custody, joint legal custody or joint physical custody (§ 30-3-131). The same article also covers custody factors and visitation by a parent who committed violence.
Protection From Abuse ActAla. Code §§ 30-5-1 to 30-5-11
A court can issue ex parte and final protection orders barring abuse and contact, requiring distance, and addressing temporary custody, visitation, support and the residence (§ 30-5-7). A final order stays in effect until a court changes or ends it.
Criminal law
Domestic violence, third degreeAla. Code § 13A-6-132
A Class A misdemeanor. A second conviction carries a 10-day minimum jail term, and a third or later conviction is a Class C felony. A Class A misdemeanor carries up to one year in jail (§ 13A-5-7).
Domestic violence, first and second degree, and strangulationAla. Code §§ 13A-6-130, 13A-6-131, 13A-6-138
First-degree domestic violence is a Class A felony and second degree is a Class B felony, with minimum sentences for repeat convictions. Domestic violence by strangulation or suffocation is a Class B felony.
Assault, third degreeAla. Code § 13A-6-22
A Class A misdemeanor covering intentionally or recklessly causing physical injury to another person, among other forms.
Stalking, first degreeAla. Code § 13A-6-90
A Class C felony for intentionally and repeatedly following or harassing a person while making a threat intended to cause reasonable fear of death or serious bodily harm.