-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 OUL1tHXt6qVhC4+lgrN9DyYyX/PF1Yc/roUQyXc9yrHFv6ccpfWd9uWAk1amB0Dg
 XCGF3eZBXosBAdbwpK46YQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000355429-04-000012.txt : 20040108
<SEC-HEADER>0000355429-04-000012.hdr.sgml : 20040108
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040108151229
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000355429-04-000012
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040107
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040108

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MCMAHON JOHN J JR
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001190997

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-12332
		FILM NUMBER:		04515332

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1927 1ST AVENUE NORTH
		STREET 2:		5TH FLOOR
		CITY:			BIRMINGHAM
		STATE:			AL
		ZIP:			35203

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PROTECTIVE LIFE CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000355429
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	LIFE INSURANCE [6311]
		IRS NUMBER:				952492236
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2801 HGWY 280 S
		CITY:			BIRMINGHAM
		STATE:			AL
		ZIP:			35223
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2058799230

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PO BOX 2606
		CITY:			BIRMINGHAM
		STATE:			AL
		ZIP:			35202
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>mcm74.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
	<periodOfReport>2004-01-07</periodOfReport>
	<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000355429</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PROTECTIVE LIFE CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PL</issuerTradingSymbol>
	</issuer>
	<reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001190997</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MCMAHON JOHN J JR</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>2801 HIGHWAY 280 SOUTH</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BIRMINGHAM</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>AL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>35223</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
			<isDirector>1</isDirector>
			<isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
			<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
			<isOther>0</isOther>
		</reportingOwnerRelationship>
	</reportingOwner>
	<nonDerivativeTable>
		<nonDerivativeTransaction>
			<securityTitle>
				<value>Common Stock</value>
			</securityTitle>
			<transactionDate>
				<value>2004-01-07</value>
			</transactionDate>
			<deemedExecutionDate>
			</deemedExecutionDate>
			<transactionCoding>
				<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
				<transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
				<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
			</transactionCoding>
			<transactionAmounts>
				<transactionShares>
					<value>35.7718</value>
				</transactionShares>
				<transactionPricePerShare>
					<value>33.5460</value>
				</transactionPricePerShare>
				<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
					<value>A</value>
				</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
			</transactionAmounts>
			<postTransactionAmounts>
				<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
					<value>19678.5227</value>
				</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
			</postTransactionAmounts>
			<ownershipNature>
				<directOrIndirectOwnership>
					<value>I</value>
				</directOrIndirectOwnership>
				<natureOfOwnership>
					<value>Deferred Compensation</value>
					<footnoteId id="F1"/>
				</natureOfOwnership>
			</ownershipNature>
		</nonDerivativeTransaction>
		<nonDerivativeHolding>
			<securityTitle>
				<value>Common Stock</value>
			</securityTitle>
			<postTransactionAmounts>
				<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
					<value>77938.0000</value>
				</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
			</postTransactionAmounts>
			<ownershipNature>
				<directOrIndirectOwnership>
					<value>I</value>
				</directOrIndirectOwnership>
				<natureOfOwnership>
					<value>By McLoud Investments (2)</value>
					<footnoteId id="F3"/>
				</natureOfOwnership>
			</ownershipNature>
		</nonDerivativeHolding>
	</nonDerivativeTable>
	<footnotes>
		<footnote id="F1">Shares acquired through PLC Def. Comp. Plan for Directors who are not officers of the Corporation (exempt under Rule 16b-3). Total amount in Col. 5 includes dividend shares acquired under the PLC Def. Comp. Plan for Directors who are not officers exempt under Rule 16-a 11.</footnote>
		<footnote id="F3">I disclaim beneficial ownership of such shares.</footnote>
	</footnotes>
	<remarks>
	</remarks>
	<ownerSignature>
		<signatureName>By: Nancy Kane Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
		<signatureDate>2004-01-08</signatureDate>
	</ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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