How long does an eviction take in Alabama?
For unpaid rent, expect about 6 weeks from the first notice to the lockout, and anywhere from 4 to 13 weeks if the tenant fights it or the court is busy.
Not legal advice. Estimates from public sources, checked Oct 17, 2026. Laws vary by county and city; talk to a local attorney before you act.
What would a rental in Alabama actually earn?
We'll prefill Alabama's numbers and include the eviction cost from this page.
- Median rent $1,077/mo
- Property tax 0.36%–0.38%
- Insurance $684–$1,167/yr
- Vacancy 5.5%–7.6%
The Alabama eviction timeline
Each step comes from Alabama's rules, with the source linked. The typical case adds up to about 6 weeks; a contested hearing adds about 3 more. Timeline model.
- 1
Notice to pay or leave
10 days7 business days after the tenant receives the notice to pay or move (Ala. Code § 35-9A-421(b)); a tenant can cure a breach at most twice in 12 months without the landlord's consent (§ 35-9A-421(d))
- 2
File and get a judgment
10–45 days · typical 217 calendar days after service to answer the possession claim (14 for money claims)
- 3
Judgment to lockout
8–14 daysAutomatic 7-day stay on the writ of possession, then the landlord applies for the writ and the sheriff executes
- 4
If the tenant appeals
7-day window7 days to appeal to circuit court; appeal does not stop the writ unless the tenant pays all rent into court; appeal is set for trial within 60 days
Can the tenant pay and stay? Can pay in full during the notice period. official source Source ↗
What an eviction costs in Alabama
Court fees come from the fee schedules we found, and each one says where it applies. Fees we couldn't verify are labeled Unverified and use the national default range. The calculator above adds them to your lost rent.
Court filing fee
varies by county (Montgomery, Escambia, Mobile examples)$247–$350Varies by county: Montgomery $247, Escambia $305, Mobile $350 (incl. some service)
Serving the tenant
Montgomery County$30Montgomery County sheriff service: $30
Sheriff or marshal lockout
Unverified · national default$75–$180No official amount verified for Alabama yet, so the calculator uses the national default range.
Lawyer, uncontested case
National estimate$500–$1,500Flat fees commonly charged when the tenant doesn't fight it. Not specific to this state; big-city rates run higher.
Lawyer, contested case
National estimate$2,000–$5,000+When the tenant contests the case. Not specific to this state.
Median gross rent
Census ACS 2024, 1-year$1,077/moAlabama median gross rent, ±$16. The calculator starts here; change it to your rent.
Statewide rules that can slow things down
Statewide rent control: No
None statewide found in the sources we checked
Statewide just-cause rules: No
None statewide found in the sources we checked
Right to counsel for tenants: No
None statewide found in the sources we checked
Seasonal or weather limits: No
None statewide found in the sources we checked
Required mediation or pre-filing program: No
None statewide found in the sources we checked
Alabama scores 77 out of 100
Faster timelines, fewer chances to pay-and-stay and fewer statewide tenant protections score higher.
Alabama eviction FAQ
How long does an eviction take in Alabama?
A nonpayment eviction in Alabama typically takes about 6 weeks from notice to lockout, with a range of roughly 4 to 13 weeks. Contested cases, court backlogs and appeals can take longer. This is an LandlordCost estimate built from the state's notice period and court deadlines, last checked Oct 17, 2026.
How much notice does a landlord have to give for unpaid rent in Alabama?
7 business days after the tenant receives the notice to pay or move (Ala. Code § 35-9A-421(b)); a tenant can cure a breach at most twice in 12 months without the landlord's consent (§ 35-9A-421(d)).
Can a tenant stop an eviction in Alabama by paying the rent?
Can pay in full during the notice period.
How much does it cost to file an eviction in Alabama?
The filing fee we found is $247-$350 (varies by county (Montgomery, Escambia, Mobile examples)). That is a local example, not a statewide fee, and other courts charge different amounts. Service and lockout fees are extra. Lawyer fees commonly run about $500-$1,500 for an uncontested case (a national estimate).
How much does it cost to evict a tenant in Alabama?
A typical uncontested nonpayment eviction in Alabama costs a landlord roughly $2,300 to $3,600: about 6 weeks of lost rent at the median rent of $1,077/month (about $1,500), court and service fees of about $352-$560 (some are national defaults because we could not verify them), and lawyer fees of about $500-$1,500 (a national estimate). A contested case running about 13 weeks can pass $5,800. These are LandlordCost estimates (Census ACS 2024 rent); they leave out rent owed before the notice, turnover and re-rent time.
Is Alabama landlord-friendly for evictions?
Alabama scores 77 out of 100 on the LandlordCost landlord-friendliness score (timeline 33.3/50, right to cure 14/20, statewide tenant protections 30/30). The formula is on our methodology page.
Sources and last-checked dates
Not yet verified for Alabama: lockout fee. Fields we couldn't source are labeled unverified, never guessed. Download the data: states.json · states.csv.
- Notice periodofficial sourcelaw.justia.com ↗
- Notice period (backup)secondary sourcenolo.com ↗
- Court deadlinesofficial sourcejackson.alacourt.gov ↗
- Judgment to lockoutofficial sourcelaw.justia.com ↗
- Appealofficial sourcelaw.justia.com ↗
- Filing feeofficial sourcemontgomery.alacourt.gov ↗
- Service feeofficial sourcemontgomery.alacourt.gov ↗
- Lockout feeunverifiednone found
- Right to cureofficial sourcelaw.justia.com ↗
- Median rentofficial sourcewww2.census.gov ↗
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