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Alabama Domestic Violence Law

Alabama Domestic Violence Defense

What you're facing under Ala. Code § 13A-6-130, how the penalties scale, and the questions your attorney needs to answer, specific to Alabama (AL) domestic violence law.

Offense Class

Class A Misdemeanor (third degree); Class B Felony (first degree); Class C Felony (second degree)

Maximum Penalty

1 year (third degree); 20 years (first degree); 10 years (second degree)

Maximum Fine

$6,000 (third degree); $30,000 (first degree); $15,000 (second degree)

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Mandatory Minimum

Alabama imposes a mandatory minimum of 24-hour minimum hold after arrest for this charge. Charge reductions or alternative sentencing are questions worth raising before the plea is entered.

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Federal Firearms Prohibition (Lautenberg Amendment)

A conviction for misdemeanor domestic violence in Alabama carries a federalfirearms-possession ban under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(9). This consequence is collateral to Alabama state penalties and applies regardless of the state sentence imposed.

Penalty Range in Alabama

StatuteAla. Code § 13A-6-130 — Domestic Violence — Third Degree
Minimum Penalty
Maximum Penalty1 year (third degree); 20 years (first degree); 10 years (second degree)
Maximum Fine$6,000 (third degree); $30,000 (first degree); $15,000 (second degree)

Charge Enhancements

These factors can elevate the charge or penalty in Alabama:

  • Use of a deadly weapon (first degree)
  • Serious physical injury (first degree)
  • Strangulation or suffocation (first degree under § 13A-6-138)
  • Violation of protection order

Alabama-Specific Detail

Alabama's domestic violence statutes (§ 13A-6-130 through 13A-6-139) mirror the three-degree assault structure applied to domestic relationships. Mandatory arrest provisions apply.

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Important: This page provides legal INFORMATION about Alabama domestic violence law as of the date of publication. Laws change frequently. This is not legal advice. The analysis draws on methods developed by defense attorneys, applied to public data. Your attorney remains the final authority on defense direction.