-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 OI52rv3cwhjixQ1hGflVfEglnAzLm21Du9u/N5jIgC7T68p+Jl7N2gAD38Ca7WzY
 wypQ/VavVp2fmf1s73BdSw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000355429-07-000199.txt : 20070509
<SEC-HEADER>0000355429-07-000199.hdr.sgml : 20070509
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20070509105540
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000355429-07-000199
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20070507
FILED AS OF DATE:		20070509
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20070509

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:		2052683596

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PO BOX 2606
		CITY:			BIRMINGHAM
		STATE:			AL
		ZIP:			35202

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			RITTER C DOWD
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001217175

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-11339
		FILM NUMBER:		07830864

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P O BOX 11007
		CITY:			BIRMINGHAM
		STATE:			AL
		ZIP:			35288
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rit698.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2007-05-07</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001217175</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>RITTER C DOWD</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>2007-05-07</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>800</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>46.2020</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2225.0000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Shares acquired by reporting person as part of Director annual compensation.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: by Harriette Hyche Attorney-in-Fact for</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-05-09</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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