Alabama § 45-58-81.03 - Family Court Fund.

(a) In addition to all other costs and charges in domestic relations cases in Shelby County, additional court costs in the amount of thirty dollars ($30) shall be charged and collected on each domestic relations case by the clerk of the court. When collected by the clerk, these amounts shall be remitted monthly to a fund, which shall be known as the Family Court Fund.

(b) If a family court division is created for Shelby County authorized by law or rules of court, the additional court costs provided by this section shall apply to all cases which are filed in that division of court and the funds shall be deposited in the Family Court Fund as provided in subsection (a).

(c) All funds which are deposited in the Family Court Fund shall be used to assist in the administration and resolution of domestic relations or family court cases. Expenditures from the fund may include, but shall not be limited to, all of the following:

(1) The compensation of court appointed mediators, referees, special masters, and guardians ad litem.

(2) The purchase of equipment or furnishing of facilities.

(3) The training or education of family or domestic relations court personnel, practitioners, guardians ad litem, mediators, referees, special masters, and judges.

(4) The compensation of persons with professional skills to evaluate, test, treat, counsel, and mediate families in crisis having domestic relations cases pending before the court.

(d) The Family Court Fund shall be maintained in an interest bearing account as designated by the presiding circuit judge or by the commission as provided herein.

(e) All expenditures from the fund shall be authorized by the presiding Circuit Judge of Shelby County unless the presiding judge elects to create a commission as provided in subsection (f).