Terms Used In Alabama Code 38-10-11

  • Common law: The legal system that originated in England and is now in use in the United States. It is based on judicial decisions rather than legislative action.
  • state: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories of the United States. See Alabama Code 1-1-1
  • Statute: A law passed by a legislature.

It is intended that new or additional causes of action for the department are created by the provisions of this article. This article shall be construed to create additional, alternative causes of action and shall in no way affect or impair any other remedy, civil or criminal, provided in any other statute or available under common law. The procedures, actions and remedies provided in this article shall in no way be exclusive but shall be in addition to and not in substitution of other proceedings available in the courts of this state or any other state or in any appropriate federal court. It is intended that this article be construed and administered to the end that children shall be maintained from the resources of the responsible parents.