How To Get An Annulment In Alabama?

How To Get An Annulment In Alabama
The 6 Possible Reasons to Obtain an Annulment in Alabama

Relationship that is not to be trusted.
Underage Marriage.
Marriages that lead to Incest.
Hidden AIDS is an acronym for acquired immune deficiency syndrome.
Marriage under Force of Compulsion
Marriages with many partners.
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How do you annul a marriage in Alabama?

The majority of people nowadays have an inaccurate understanding of what an annulment entails and even how it may be done because of popular culture such as movies and television shows. An annulment is a legal action that is comparable to a divorce in the sense that both pertain to the status of the parties as married individuals.

A divorce is the legal process that ends a married couple’s connection, but an annulment proves that the couple was never married and so there was never any marital relationship.
In accordance with the rules of the state of Alabama, a marriage is deemed to be legitimate and may only be canceled if it satisfies a limited number of legislative requirements for doing so.

In the event that you do not satisfy any of these statutory requirements for an annulment, the only way to legally end your marriage is to submit a petition for divorce and go through the divorce process. The following is a list of the statutory reasons for an annulment.

Incestuous Marriage: If one spouse finds that the other spouse is a family member within a certain legislative decree of relationship, then the marriage is against public policy and must be dissolved. Incestuous marriages are considered to be incestuous marriages. In the event of bigamy, in which one of the parties to the marriage is still married to another person at the time of the marriage, the marriage is null and invalid, and an annulment is the appropriate course of action.

In the event that a husband believes that his wife was pregnant with his kid at the time of their marriage but subsequently discovers that the child is not biologically his, the marriage may be declared invalid and the parties may seek divorce or legal separation.

This involves fraud, because it touches on issues that are fundamental to the marriage. Fraudulent intent not to cohabit: If, at the time of the marriage, one of the spouses led the other spouse to believe that they would cohabit and consummate the marriage, but then later refuses to do either of those things, the marriage may be annulled on the grounds of fraudulent intent not to cohabit.

Fraudulent concealment of sexually transmitted disease: If, prior to the solemnization of the marriage, one spouse learns that the other spouse was afflicted with a contagious and incurable sexually transmitted disease, the marriage may be annulled as a result of the fraudulent concealment of the condition.

Before getting married, the infected partner must have knowingly attempted to keep the sickness a secret from the other partner in the relationship. Marriage of a minor: If one of the parties to the marriage was underage at the time of the marriage and did not have the agreement of their parents, then the marriage may be cancelled prior to the age of majority being reached by the spouse who was married while underage.

It is possible to get a marriage annulled if one of the partners gave their agreement to the marriage under duress, which means that they were threatened with bodily harm either before or after the ceremony. If, after the parties have tied the knot and consulted with qualified medical personnel, the woman discovers that the couple is unable to complete their marriage because the husband suffers from a pathological psychiatric condition, the marriage may be dissolved and the parties may seek divorce.

If you believe that one of the statutory reasons for an annulment described above may apply to your situation and you would want to explore your options, it is imperative that you seek solid legal counsel regarding your choices in this matter.
We at Skier & Associates are here to help guide you through the process of making these crucial choices.

Please get in touch with us as soon as possible so that we may set up a session for you with one of our skilled and well-informed attorneys. They will be able to provide you with guidance regarding the choices that are most appropriate for your circumstances.

How many days after marriage can you get an annulment in Alabama?

How to Get an Annulment in Alabama An annulment is a legal procedure that is carried out in Alabama in order to proclaim a marriage null and invalid. The legal and the religious annulments are the two that are most frequently used. There are a number of religions that look highly upon annulments while condemning divorce as a kind of disgrace.

However, in the perspective of the law, a religious annulment does not put an end to a marriage that has been legally recognized, and religious annulments do not adhere to the same stringent rules that govern civil annulments. In Alabama, obtaining an annulment must comply with a number of stringent legal requirements, despite the fact that doing so may appear to be the preferable choice in comparison to admitting the marriage and then dissolving it.

You may receive assistance from the family law experts at our firm with your annulment, as well as advice on whether or not an annulment is the best course of action, or whether a divorce would be more appropriate. There are a few widespread misunderstandings concerning annulments that are held by many individuals.

The length of a marriage is often thought to have a direct bearing on whether or not an annulment can be granted in the state of Alabama.
It is not necessary to have been married for a predetermined amount of time in order to file for either an annulment or a divorce.
There is a widespread misconception that an annulment cannot be granted for a marriage that has lasted less than a certain amount of time.

Take, for instance, the case of a person who gets married in Las Vegas but then, after returning home, files for divorce. This is not the case at all. There are actually very few scenarios in which one may have our divorce lawyer in Birmingham, Alabama file for an annulment rather than a divorce in the state of Alabama.

In addition, the validity of some of these arguments is more straightforward to establish than that of others. This indicates that some of these reasons can be demonstrated by signing testimony and filing it, and there may be no need for hearings at all. In other words, it is possible to proceed in a manner analogous to that of an uncontested divorce.

In Alabama, an annulment may not be granted if just written testimony is presented to the judge since there are other circumstances that may need personal testimony. Because of this, the amount of money required to get an annulment might change depending on the reasons for getting one.

Is getting an annulment hard?

Who Is Eligible to Obtain an Annulment? Because there are restrictions placed on the types of situations in which an annulment may be granted, the process of obtaining one is far more challenging than that of obtaining a divorce. In the state of California, you are eligible to file a petition for an annulment if one of the following conditions is met: Blood Relation The legality of a marriage cannot be established if any of the prospective partners has a blood relation to the other.

Bigamy, The second marriage will never be regarded legitimate if any of the partners was previously married in a marriage that was recognized by the law.
Underage,
It is possible for either partner to petition the court to have the marriage dissolved if they were under the age of 18 when they tied the knot.

Fraud, It is possible for either partner to petition the court to have the marriage dissolved if they were the one who falsely initiated the marriage or if they were the one who caused their partner to fraudulently initiate the marriage. Marriages that only exist for the purpose of obtaining a green card are an example of a fraudulent marriage.

To be clear, the deception must have gone “to the heart” of the marriage in order for it to be grounds for an annulment.
Physical incapacity that cannot be cured.
It is possible for either partner to file a petition for an annulment if they suffer from a physical disability that prevents them from engaging in sexual activity or caring for children.

Lacking a Sound Mind Either partner can file a petition for an annulment of the marriage if they can demonstrate that the other partner has a temporary or permanent mental disorder that prevents them from fully grasping the significance of the marriage they engaged into.

Can you get an annulment without the other person?

Is It Possible to Get an Annulment Even If the Other Person Is Missing? – Yes. However, in order to move on with this procedure, you will need to offer the appropriate proof indicating that your decision was correct. In the procedure of annulment, if you can show the aforementioned conditions, there is nothing that your partner can do to prevent it from happening.

How long does it take to get an annulment?

How much time does it take to get a civil annulment? – Depending on how busy the court’s schedule is, the full procedure might take anywhere from six months to four years to complete. Your petition will be drafted after the preliminary meeting and signature of the retainer agreement that you have with the attorney that you have selected.

You will be required to undertake a psychological examination in the event that the reason for your annulment is based on the psychological incapacity of your spouse. This is the situation in the majority of annulment cases in the Philippines. Following the completion of the written report by the psychologist, your attorney will begin drafting the petition and will provide it to you for approval.

The completed petition will then be submitted to the court, and a judge will be selected by a random drawing. In the event that you reside or work outside of the country, you have the ability to submit the petition prior to getting a psychiatric examination.

This can take place before both you and the doctor testify in court.
Once a judge has been appointed to your petition, the pre-trial proceedings and the investigation into collusion will commence.
The inquiry into collusion is when the court will try to ascertain if you and your husband had already agreed to an annulment.

It is unethical for Filipino spouses to conspire to have their marriages dissolved, as this is not possible in other nations where parties can go through a mutually agreed upon divorce. The topics that are relevant to the case will be identified and narrowed down by the judge, and the judge will also send both parties to mediation to see if they can reach an agreement on preliminary matters such as child custody, support payments, and visitation rights.

Your presence as the petitioner, the presence of the psychologist, and that of a friend or family who serves as the corroborating witness are all required for the trial to proceed.
Following the conclusion of the trial, the matter is handed over to the court for a ruling.
Should the ruling that was made be one that denied the request or was otherwise unfavorable, any party may ask for the decision to be reconsidered by filing a petition for reconsideration within 15 days of receiving the court’s decision.

If one of the parties disputes the annulment, the process might take significantly more time to reach a conclusion, as was noted before. The duration of the procedure can be attributed to a number of different circumstances, including the fact that the court could be extremely busy with a large number of cases, the judge could be unavailable on the dates scheduled for hearings, and so on.

How much does it cost to get divorce in Alabama?

The Average Price Paid to the Court for a Divorce in Huntsville, Alabama – Then, of course, there are the fees associated with going to court, which range widely depending on the county. The current amount for court costs in Madison County is approximately $336.00; however, the total price may be more depending on the method by which the papers are served.

In Huntsville, the fees that you’ll have to pay will be determined by whether you choose to utilize a process server, certified mail, the sheriff’s department, or the military.
The fees required to appear in court in Madison County are different from those in Morgan County and Limestone County.
The fees associated with going to court can change based on the kind of the lawsuit that you are filing.

In Madison County, the fees associated with going to court for a divorce are different than the costs associated with going to court for a juvenile case. If you have property that has to be transferred, you may incur additional charges in addition to those already mentioned.

A quitclaim deed from my office will cost you $150.00. In Alabama, the costs associated with initiating and finalizing a divorce typically range between $200 and $350.00. The cost of filing for divorce in Alabama often ranges from $215 and 230 dollars on average. If you have a contentious divorce case in the city of Huntsville, Alabama, the associated fees will be significantly higher.

A retainer agreement with me for a case in Madison County typically costs between $3,000 and $5,000. A retainer is a sum of money that is deposited into a trust account and then deducted from that account based on the amount of time spent working on a particular case.

The more complicated a case is, the higher the overall price tag will be. People who are financially strapped sometimes beg me to “stop working on the case,” even if the outcome of the situation is not solely reliant on our efforts. When there is a competing Huntsville family lawyer engaged, they will make calls, write letters, file discovery, and submit motions, the most of which, if not all of which, require a prompt response from the other side.

Even if the case is in the preparation stage, we are still working to make it ready for trial by conducting discovery, issuing subpoenas, locating expert witnesses, analyzing documents, and arranging and reviewing items for the trial or deposition. Even before we go to the trial in Madison County, the matter will continue to rack up more and more expenses.

In addition to that, there are costs that need to be paid to other specialists. The price for this service will change based on the sort of expert you choose. Subpoenas cost money. There are expenses associated with hiring court reporters for depositions, and there are also fees associated with purchasing a transcript of the depositions.

There are also some minimal costs associated with mailing or copying, and these costs vary based on the number of documents that need to be duplicated. When a couple is going through the legal process of getting a divorce, there are typically many, many volumes of paper.

Regrettably, there is typically no way to predict for certain how much a divorce or a lawsuit involving family law will cost before we even begin working on it. If you have a lot of questions and you want to communicate with me in any way, whether it be by email or in person, then you will be charged extra fees each time.

For brief emails, I round up to either.1 or.15, but other attorneys charge.3 as the round up fee for their clients. If you phone and email family law professionals on a weekly basis, your costs might easily balloon out of control. In the price agreement that I have with you, I have outlined in great detail all of the many methods that you will be paid.

I also make it a point to send out invoices at the very least once a month, if not once a week, to ensure that my clients are always informed of how their money is being spent and how far along they are with their retainer. When the account falls below $1,500.00, we will notify the customer so that they have the opportunity to add more money to their retainer before the account becomes completely depleted of funds and a request for a large quantity of money is necessary.

As long as it is clear that the client is making an attempt to pay the retainer, we do our best to work with them on the payment plan for the retainer. Because we genuinely care about ensuring that everything goes off without a hitch for you, people have a lot of confidence in our abilities as a family law practice.

Before the beginning of the trial, one of the things we are required to do is collect the necessary payments. If it doesn’t work out, then we won’t have any money to go toward working on the case. In order to guarantee that our customers have sufficient monies in their accounts prior to depositions, mediation, hearings, or trials, we request that our clients pay a set amount toward their fee.

We make requests in certain divorces for the opposing party to pay the expenses, but there is no assurance that the court will compel them to do so. Therefore, we ask that the fees be paid in full by the client before we make any further demands. The next step is for us to submit a claim for payment to the other party.

The payment of legal expenses through the payment of a flat charge is another option.
In Madison County, the charge for an uncontested domestic case is the same as the fee for a disputed case that has a flat fee associated with it.
Instead of invoicing the customer on a retainer basis, I make an attempt to make an estimate of how much the costs are going to be, and I charge that amount as payment from the client.

If the problems aren’t going to necessitate spending thousands of dollars on a divorce, you could find that this is to your advantage. How To Get An Annulment In Alabama

What are grounds for divorce in Alabama?

Legal Separation as an Alternative to Divorce in Alabama Legal separation is an option for married couples in Alabama who do not want to end their marriage. While a court is able to decide on legal aspects such as the division of property, child custody, and child support during a legal separation, the marriage itself is not dissolved.

Legal separation is an option that may be suitable for married couples whose religious views prevent them from being divorced, as well as for families who consider that divorce would be detrimental to the well-being of their children. Legal separation does not prevent one spouse from divorcing the other at a later date.

The following requirements must be satisfied for the courts to be able to award a legal separation: The court determines that the marriage is irretrievably broken, there is a complete incompatibility, or one or both spouses desire to live separate and apart, and the judge decides or approves all issues surrounding child custody and child support.

At least one of the spouses must be a resident of Alabama and have been for at least six months prior to the filing.
To modify the conditions of the legal separation, both parties must first agree to do so in writing and then bring the new agreement before the court for approval.
Otherwise, the terms of the separation cannot be altered.

If one partner wants to change the agreement but the other partner does not, the partner who wants to change the agreement must file a motion with the court and demonstrate that there has been a significant shift in the couple’s circumstances since the court issued the original order or separated them.

How long do you have to consummate a marriage?

What Kinds of Behavior Qualify for Annulment Under the Law? Is Sexual Activity an Essential Part of Marriage? – An annulment takes place when a judge decides that a marriage in its current condition should no longer be recognized as legitimate. Even if a marriage was legally binding when the couple first tied the knot, it is still possible for that union to be dissolved provided certain conditions are fulfilled.

In the state of New York, a marriage has the potential to be declared null and void for one of five different reasons.
Either the husband, the wife, or both partners in the marriage were too young to be involved in a marital relationship.
In the state of New York, in order to be legally married, a person under the age of 18 must have the approval of both of their parents, and a person under the age of 16 must have the approval of a judge.

In the event that these conditions are not satisfied, either person who is underage, along with their parents or legal guardians, may file paperwork to have their marriage declared invalid. Incapacity of the husband, wife, or both spouses in the marriage to make their own decisions due to mental illness or incapacity for which there is no feasible cure may be grounds for the court to dissolve the marriage.

Illness of the mind that cannot be cured: If either the husband or wife has been suffering from an illness of the mind for at least five years for which there is no known cure, the other spouse has the right to file for an annulment.
A party was physically forced into the marriage, pressured into marriage by the fraud of the other marital partner, or had a wedding to obtain immigration status in order to have the marriage annulled.

Consent for marriage was obtained through force, duress, or fraud — If a party was physically forced into the marriage, pressured into marriage by the fraud of the other marital partner, or had a wedding to obtain immigration status, the marriage can be annulled.

Which is easier divorce or annulment?

Questions That Are Typically Requested – How do you acquire an annulment? In the vast majority of situations, you will be required to formally petition the court for an annulment, just as you would if you were seeking a divorce. You are going to need the guidance of an experienced legal professional in order to successfully get your marriage annulled.

Annulments have their own unique and typically more stringent evidentiary requirements. In order for the court to approve the annulment, you and your attorney will be required to show evidence of the reasons for the annulment. The procedure for religious annulments is going to be different according on the religion you belong to.

If you want to understand more about the procedure, you should see a religious leader. How long do you have to be married before you can file for an annulment? The length of time that must pass before a marriage can be declared invalid depends on the reasons that led to the annulment.

There is often no statute of limitations for certain circumstances, such as a previously existing marriage, although there may be a restriction imposed for other ones, depending on the laws of the state in question.
How do you acquire an annulment in the Catholic Church? An annulment, or what the Roman Catholic church refers to as a “declaration of nullity,” is something that is given by a church tribunal, which may be thought of as a court.

Written testimony on the marriage and the grounds why it should be declared null and void is required to be presented to the tribunal by the spouse who is petitioning for the declaration. They are also required to provide the tribunal with the names of those who are not involved in the marriage but are able to answer inquiries regarding it.

The matter will then be reviewed by the tribunal, which will decide whether or not the marriage is considered illegitimate under canon law.
This procedure is distinct from an annulment through the judicial system.
But even if the marriage is deemed invalid, any children who were born during it will still be considered legitimate, just as they would be in the case of a judicial annulment.

How long does the process of obtaining an annulment take? It is impossible to predict how long an annulment may take to be granted, just as it is difficult to predict how long other legal actions would take. It is possible that the procedure might be completed in a reasonably short amount of time—perhaps a few months—if both parties agree on the grounds why the marriage should be annulled and the proof is unmistakable and readily available.

However, this will rely on the court’s schedule. An attorney who specializes in family law in your state may be able to provide an estimate of the amount of time needed to complete the annulment procedure. What are the fees involved in obtaining an annulment? It’s possible that the costs associated with getting an annulment are comparable to those of getting a divorce.

You will be required to pay court expenses in either scenario, and in most situations, you will also need to retain an attorney to represent your interests in court. And in both scenarios, the expenses will go up concurrently with the increase in complexity: Are both of the potential spouses in favor of the annulment? Do they have the same understanding of the events that transpired? Do they already have a family? If there are disagreements that need to be settled, the case will take longer, and as a result, it will cost more.

Why would an annulment be denied?

Reasons Your Annulment Request Could Be Denied – In the vast majority of instances, a petition for annulment is denied for the straightforward reason that the petitioner does not satisfy the qualifying conditions. In order to be eligible for an annulment, at least one (1) of the following requirements have to be satisfied: Either you or your partner were previously married to another person.

Either you or your partner entered the marriage under duress or by using undue influence.
When you entered into the marriage, either you or your partner engaged in fraudulent activity.
You or your spouse has a mental disease, or you both were mentally incompetent at the time of the marriage to comprehend the contract that you were entering into.

You or your spouse are unable to have sexual intercourse. Either you or your partner was under the legal age to get married.

How long do you have to be separated before your marriage is annulled?

Annulment or Divorce? – If you have exhausted all other options and are at a loss for what to do next, you could be thinking of ending your marriage. But hold on, what exactly are you seeking for—a divorce, or do you want to know if you may get an annulment? Or perhaps you should consider getting an annulment rather than a divorce.

Recently, there has been a lot of discussion over what exactly constitutes adultery in the context of a divorce, particularly amongst spouses who have the same sexual orientation. What is almost never mentioned in these publications is the fact that there is only one valid reason to file for divorce, and that is an irretrievable collapse in the marriage.

It can be shown by citing any one of these five facts: adultery, unreasonable behavior, desertion for two years, separation for two years with permission, or five years of separation. Because the legal definition of adultery requires sexual activity to take place between a man and a woman, the act of adultery can only be committed by heterosexual couples who are married to one another.

Can I remarry after annulment?

Absolutely. After you have obtained either the Decree of Absolute Nullity or the Decree of Annulment of Marriage, you will be able to get married. Take notice that the court will not issue the Decree unless it has completed the following steps in the following order: Registration of the Entry of Judgment in both the Civil Registry of the location where you got married and the Civil Registry of the court that heard your case is required once a divorce or annulment has been granted.

The recording of the split and distribution of properties that has been accepted in the Register of Deeds located in the area where the properties are situated. Provision of the children’s presumed legitimate time of birth. Your future marriage will not be considered legal if you do not complete all of the steps listed above.

To read the main article, please visit: Comprehensive Instructions on How to Apply for an Annulment in the Philippines

How do I prove my marriage is not consummated?

Dear advocate, Please provide me with information on the numerous methods that may be used to provide proof in front of the court that the male petitioner did not consummate the marriage. hindu arranged marriage, marriage has been going on for 2.5 years, petitioner’s wife has been unfaithful for 2.3 years, and they have been living apart for 2.3 years.

The male petitioner claims that they did not complete their marriage, while the female respondent says that they did. If you file a petition for her to undergo a medical exam to determine whether or not she is a virgin, and the exam demonstrates that she is, then the marriage has not been consummated, and since she is living apart from you, there has been a desertion.

The evidence is sufficient to support your claim. Lawyer Detail Have a talk with your attorney, dear client. YOU FILE DIVORCE PETITION ON THE GROUND OF DESERTION, YOU SHOULD HAVE FILED TO NULLIFY THE MARRIAGE WITHIN ONE YEAR OR IMMEDIATELY AFTER DESERTION TO NULLIFY THE MARRIAGE AS THE MARRIAGE WAS NON CONSUMMATED, ACCORDING TO YOUR VERSION, EVEN IF THE MARRIAGE WAS NOT CONSUMMATED YOU SHOULD HAVE DONE SO.

YOU ARE NOT PERMITTED TO TAKE THAT GROUND AT THIS TIME.
AND YOU ARE UNABLE TO PROVE IT.
Therefore, the fact that she left her marital home is justified in and of itself.
PLEASE CLICK LIKE,K.NAGAMANI ADV HYD Lawyer Detail Consult with a Lawyer.
YOUR MARRIAGE IS TREATED TO BE CONSUMATED BY INTERCOURSE BETWEEN YOU AND YOUR WIFE AND IF THERE IS ANY ISSUE, IT WILL BE AUTOMATICALLY PROVEN TO BE CONSUMATED.

AS PER YOUR FACTS, THE MARRIAGE SHOULD BE CONSUMATED WHEN IF YOU HAVE NOT PROVEN THAT THE MARRIAGE IS VOID ON ANNULMENT OF MARRIAGE ON THE SAID ASIT DAS, ADVOCATE, NEW DELHI Talk to Your Lawyer About the Details There are two different methods: The first piece of evidence is oral, while the second piece is documented.

Bring forth any and all witnesses who can attest to the fact that the marriage has not yet resulted in a consummation.
Second, any contact with the wife that either directly or indirectly suggests such can be used as evidence if it exists.
In conclusion, her examination by the opposing counsel would be essential.

After reviewing the entire situation, I will be able to provide you with more inputs. Make contact through the appropriate channel. Lawyer Detail Have a conversation with the Lawyer sir, then go to court and ask for a medical exam to be performed on both the husband and the wife, and everything will become evident.

And if the outcome favors the spouse, you’ll be able to file for divorce on the basis that you deserted him.
You are responsible for your own defense if she challenges any of your claims.
Therefore, in order to prevent that from happening, you will need to put pressure on her and use her illicit relationship with someone else as a means of blackmailing her.

Talk to Your Lawyer About the Details

Can you annul a marriage?

First Things First – In legal terms, a “decree of nullity” is a statement made by a court that your marriage did not take place and hence does not exist. It indicates that neither you nor your partner are legally married to each other at this time. A nullity, often known as an annulment, is not the same thing as being divorced.

Void marriages
voidable marriages

In the event that your marriage is declared null and invalid, it will be treated as though it had never taken place. Even if your marriage is subject to the possibility of being voided, it will continue to be treated as a lawful marriage until a declaration of annulment is issued.

After the decree has been issued, your marriage will likewise be treated as though it never happened and annulled.
It is necessary for one of the individuals involved in the marriage to petition the court for a declaration of nullity in order for the court to issue a decree of annulment.
If the court finds that your marriage can be annulled, it will then rule that your marriage was never lawful to begin with because it was never legally recognized.

Your marriage never happened.

How long do you have to consummate a marriage?

In the state of New York, a marriage has the potential to be declared null and void for one of five different reasons. Either the husband, the wife, or both partners in the marriage were too young to be involved in a marital relationship. In the state of New York, in order to be legally married, a person under the age of 18 must have the approval of both of their parents, and a person under the age of 16 must have the approval of a judge.

Illness of the mind that cannot be cured: If either the husband or wife has been suffering from an illness of the mind for at least five years for which there is no known cure, the other spouse has the right to file for an annulment.
A party was physically forced into the marriage, pressured into marriage by the fraud of the other marital partner, or had a wedding to obtain immigration status in order to have the marriage annulled.

Because one of the participants in the marriage is unable to take part in the consummation of the marriage but was unconscious of this fact at the time they were married, the marriage may be annulled if it can be proven that they were not aware of this limitation when they entered into the marriage.

This event must take place no more than five years after the wedding date in order to fulfill the requirements.

What are grounds for divorce in Alabama?

At least one of the spouses must be a resident of Alabama and have been for at least six months prior to the filing. To modify the conditions of the legal separation, both parties must first agree to do so in writing and then bring the new agreement before the court for approval. Otherwise, the terms of the separation cannot be altered.