-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 KnUFs0bhJbuNRj4d1ChSL2EbkLjeD2+ofI3Om9n3CcXjECHqMEajvkj0AI2H3iAG
 R1YR7tGvp2VrExn+ZMeTVQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000355429-04-000103.txt : 20040305
<SEC-HEADER>0000355429-04-000103.hdr.sgml : 20040305
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040305145439
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000355429-04-000103
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040301
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040305

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ROBINS BERNARD L
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001282658

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-11339
		FILM NUMBER:		04651690

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2801 HIGHWAY
		STREET 2:		280 SOUTH
		CITY:			BIRMINGHAM
		STATE:			AL
		ZIP:			35223

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>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rob131.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-03-01</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000355429</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PROTECTIVE LIFE CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PL</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001282658</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ROBINS BERNARD L</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>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>SR VP</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>423.1095</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By 401(k)</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5972.9074</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Deferred Compensation</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>SAR 2</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>22.3100</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-03-06</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2010-03-06</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Total shares held by reporting person in PLC's 401(k) &amp; Stock Ownership Plan as of  3/1/04</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Shares acquired through the PLC Def. Comp. Plan for Officers of the Corporation (exempt under Rule 16b-3). Total amount in Col. 2 includes dividend shares acquired under the PLC Def. Comp. Plan for Officers exempt under Rule 16-a 11.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: by Harriette Hyche Attorney-in-Fact for</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-03-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----