Which Alabama court hears your civil case
Civil jurisdiction thresholds with statutory authority. Source: 1Court Directory, verified 2026-08-20 (official source).
| Tier | Court | Amount in controversy | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small claims | District Court: Small Claims Docket | Up to $6,000 | Ala. Code § 12-12-31 |
| Limited civil | District Court | Up to $20,000 | Ala. Code § 12-12-30 |
| General civil | Circuit Court Over $20,000. | No limit | Ala. Code § 12-11-30 |
Answer deadline after service
A defendant generally has 30 days after service of the summons and complaint to file an answer (Ala. R. Civ. P. 12(a)).
Estimates from the statutory answer period; service-method extensions and local rules can change these dates. Verify before relying on them. Not legal advice.
18 Alabama forms SimpleCase prepares
Generated from your uploaded complaint, with captions and terminology matched to Alabama practice. Every document is a draft for attorney review.
- Notice of Appearance(pattern) Appearance of counsel; service on undersigned requested
- Motion for Continuance(pattern) Good-cause continuance with proposed order
- Notice of Deposition(pattern) Oral deposition with optional duces tecum; recording method per rule
- Civil Subpoena(pattern) Testimony and/or production (duces tecum); issuance and witness-fee rules vary
- Answer(pattern) Responsive pleading: denials and affirmative defenses
- Satisfaction of Judgment(pattern) acknowledgment of satisfaction for entry on the docket
- Summons: Civil (C-34)AOC Form C-34: 30-day answer (circuit)
- Civil Cover SheetRequired for case assignment
- Return of ServiceARCP Rule 4(g): proof of service
- In Forma Pauperis PetitionAla. Code § 6-6-32: fee waiver
- Voluntary DismissalARCP Rule 41(a)
- Motion for Default JudgmentARCP Rule 55: default + judgment
- Affidavit of Non-Military ServiceSCRA: 50 U.S.C. § 3931
- Default JudgmentARCP Rule 55(b): proposed order
- Writ of ExecutionAla. Code § 6-9-20: levy on property (30-day wait)
- Affidavit for GarnishmentAla. Code § 6-6-392: required to initiate garnishment
- Post-Judgment InterrogatoriesAla. Code § 6-6-188: asset discovery
- Statement of Claim: Small Claims (SM-1)(AOC SM-1 pattern) Small Claims Division of District Court, claims to $6,000; one per defendant
Filing packages
One click assembles the forms a Alabama matter typically needs at each stage.
General Civil
Summons: Civil (C-34) · Civil Cover Sheet · Return of Service
Collections: File & Serve
Summons: Civil (C-34) · Civil Cover Sheet · Return of Service
Collections: Default Judgment
Motion for Default Judgment · Affidavit of Non-Military Service · Default Judgment
Collections: Enforce Judgment
Satisfaction of Judgment · Writ of Execution · Affidavit for Garnishment · Post-Judgment Interrogatories
In Forma Pauperis
In Forma Pauperis Petition
Voluntary Dismissal
Voluntary Dismissal
County-level court details
Filing fees, clerk contacts, e-filing portals, and courthouse addresses for every Alabama county are in the 1Court Directory: Alabama.
How it works
Upload your case document
PDF, Word, image, or text. SimpleCase extracts parties, claims, amounts, and dates.
Confirm venue and court
For unfiled cases, SimpleCase suggests the county, court level, and courthouse, with the statutory basis shown.
Generate the package
Every required form, filled and assembled as a ZIP, ready for attorney review and filing.
Turn a complaint into a filing-ready case
Your first 3 cases are free. No card required.
Try SimpleCase freeSimpleCase prepares document drafts for attorney review; it is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice, and no attorney-client relationship is created by using it. Court data on this page is sourced from the 1Court Directory with the verification date shown, and statutes and court rules change: always confirm current requirements, deadlines, and fees with the clerk of the court before filing.