- Statement of Changes in Beneficial Ownership (4)

FORM 4 [ ] Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).	UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES	OMB APPROVAL OMB Number: 3235-0287 Expires: November 30, 2011 Estimated average burden hours per response... 0.5
	Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(f) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person ^* JOHNS JOHN D	2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol PROTECTIVE LIFE CORP [ PL ]	5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) __ X __ Director _____ 10% Owner __ X __ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) CEO,President
(Last) (First) (Middle) 2801 HIGHWAY 280, SOUTH	3. Date of Earliest Transaction (MM/DD/YYYY) 3/6/2012
(Street) BIRMINGHAM, AL 35223 (City) (State) (Zip)	4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed (MM/DD/YYYY)	6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line) _ X _ Form filed by One Reporting Person ___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security (Instr. 3)	2. Trans. Date	2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any	3. Trans. Code (Instr. 8)		4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)			5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4)	6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
1.Title of Security (Instr. 3)	2. Trans. Date	2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any	Code	V	Amount	(A) or (D)	Price		6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
Common Stock ⁽¹⁾	3/6/2012		A		107252.0000	A	$ 0	123775.0000	D
Common Stock	3/6/2012		A		81554.0000	A	$27.25	205329.0000	D
Common Stock ⁽¹⁾	3/6/2012		A		81554.0000	A	$ 0	286883.0000	D
Common Stock ⁽¹⁾	3/6/2012		A		42900.0000	A	$ 0	329783.0000	D
Common Stock ⁽¹⁾	3/6/2012		A		35300.0000	A	$ 0	365083.0000	D
Common Stock	3/6/2012		F		33805.0000	D	$27.25	331278.0000	D
Common Stock								19393.1930	I	By 401(k) ⁽²⁾
Common Stock								10.0000	I	By daughter ⁽³⁾
Common Stock								2600.0000	I	By Wife ⁽³⁾
Common Stock								400.0000	I	By wife as co-trustee of Trust ⁽³⁾
Common Stock								600.0000	I	By wife as custodian for Daughter ⁽³⁾
Common Stock								600.0000	I	by wife as custodian for son ⁽³⁾
Common Stock								341469.5096	I	Deferred Compensation ⁽⁴⁾
Common Stock								28070.0000	I	Grantor retained annuity

*Table II - Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned ( e.g.* , puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)**
1. Title of Derivate Security (Instr. 3)	2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	3. Trans. Date	3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any	4. Trans. Code (Instr. 8)		5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)		6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date		7. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security (Instr. 3 and 4)		8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)	9. Number of derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4)	10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
1. Title of Derivate Security (Instr. 3)	2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	3. Trans. Date	3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any	Code	V	(A)	(D)	Date Exercisable	Expiration Date	Title	Amount or Number of Shares	8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)			11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
SAR ⁽⁵⁾	$18.36							2/26/2011	2/26/2020	Common Stock	30000.0000		30000.0000	D
SAR ⁽⁵⁾	$18.36							2/26/2012	2/26/2020	Common Stock	30000.0000		30000.0000	D
SAR ⁽⁵⁾	$18.36							2/26/2013	2/26/2020	Common Stock	30000.0000		30000.0000	D
SAR ⁽⁵⁾	$38.59							2/28/2009	2/28/2018	Common Stock	20475.0000		20475.0000	D
SAR ⁽⁵⁾	$38.59							2/28/2010	2/28/2018	Common Stock	20475.0000		20475.0000	D
SAR ⁽⁵⁾	$38.59							2/28/2011	2/28/2018	Common Stock	20475.0000		20475.0000	D
SAR ⁽⁵⁾	$38.59							2/29/2012	2/28/2018	Common Stock	20475.0000		20475.0000	D
SAR ⁽⁵⁾	$48.6							3/3/2007	3/3/2016	Common Stock	6325.0000		6325.0000	D
SAR ⁽⁵⁾	$48.6							3/3/2008	3/3/2016	Common Stock	6325.0000		6325.0000	D
SAR ⁽⁵⁾	$48.6							3/3/2009	3/3/2016	Common Stock	6325.0000		6325.0000	D
SAR ⁽⁵⁾	$48.6							3/3/2010	3/3/2016	Common Stock	6325.0000		6325.0000	D
SAR ⁽⁵⁾	$41.05							3/4/2006	3/4/2015	Common Stock	5800.0000		5800.0000	D
SAR ⁽⁵⁾	$41.05							3/4/2007	3/4/2015	Common Stock	5800.0000		5800.0000	D
SAR ⁽⁵⁾	$41.05							3/4/2008	3/4/2015	Common Stock	5800.0000		5800.0000	D
SAR ⁽⁵⁾	$41.05							3/4/2009	3/4/2015	Common Stock	5800.0000		5800.0000	D
SAR ⁽⁵⁾	$3.5							3/4/2010	3/4/2020	Common Stock	83334.0000		83334.0000	D
SAR ⁽⁵⁾	$3.5							3/4/2011	3/4/2020	Common Stock	83333.0000		83333.0000	D
SAR ⁽⁵⁾	$3.5							3/4/2012	3/4/2020	Common Stock	83333.0000		83333.0000	D
SAR ⁽⁵⁾	$43.46							3/5/2008	3/5/2017	Common Stock	15100.0000		15100.0000	D
SAR ⁽⁵⁾	$43.46							3/5/2009	3/5/2017	Common Stock	15100.0000		15100.0000	D
SAR ⁽⁵⁾	$43.46							3/5/2010	3/5/2017	Common Stock	15100.0000		15100.0000	D
SAR ⁽⁵⁾	$43.46							3/5/2011	3/5/2017	Common Stock	15100.0000		15100.0000	D

Explanation of Responses:
( 1)	Previously granted RSU formally reported in Table II.
( 2)	Total shares held by reporting person in PLC's 401(k) and Stock Ownership Plan.
( 3)	I disclaim beneficial ownership of such shares.
( 4)	Shares acquired through PLC Deferred Compensation Plan for Officers of the Corporation (exempt under Rule 16b-3).
( 5)	Previously reported Stock Appreciation Right (SAR).

Reporting Owners
Reporting Owner Name / Address	Relationships
Reporting Owner Name / Address	Director	10% Owner	Officer	Other
JOHNS JOHN D 2801 HIGHWAY 280, SOUTH BIRMINGHAM, AL 35223	X		CEO,President

Signatures
by Alfred F. Delchamps, III, Attorney-in-Fact for John D. Johns		3/8/2012
^** Signature of Reporting Person		Date

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
*	If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
**	Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
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