How long does an eviction take in Alabama?
For unpaid rent, expect about 6 weeks from the first notice to the lockout in Alabama, and anywhere from 4 to 13 weeks if the tenant fights it or the court is busy.
Alabama eviction timeline, step by step
- Notice to pay or leave 10 dayssecondary source
7 business days to pay or move (Ala. Code § 35-9A-421) source - File the case and get a judgment about 10-45 days (typical 21)official source
7 calendar days after service to answer the possession claim (14 for money claims) source - Judgment to lockout 8-14 daysofficial source
Automatic 7-day stay on the writ of possession, then the landlord applies for the writ and the sheriff executes source - If the tenant appeals 7-day windowofficial source
7 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 source
Timeline model: notice + filing-to-judgment window + judgment-to-lockout window; the high case adds 21 days for a contested hearing. Methodology.
Can the tenant pay and stay?
Can pay in full during the notice period. secondary source source
Eviction costs in Alabama
| Cost | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Court filing fee | $247-$350 | varies by county (Montgomery, Escambia, Mobile examples): Varies by county: Montgomery $247, Escambia $305, Mobile $350 (incl. some service) official source source |
| Serving the tenant | $30 | Montgomery County: Montgomery County sheriff service: $30 official source source |
| Sheriff/marshal lockout | $75-$180 | Not verified for Alabama; the calculator uses the national default range. unverified |
| Lawyer, uncontested | $500-$1,500 | National rough estimate, not state-specific estimate |
| Lawyer, contested | $2,000-$5,000+ | National rough estimate estimate |
| Median gross rent | $1,077/mo | Census ACS 2024 1-year (±$16) data file |
Tenant protections
| 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 / pre-filing program | No | None statewide found in the sources we checked |
Eviction cost calculator for Alabama
| What | Typical | Low to high |
|---|
Full timeline and sources · Total = rent × (months behind + months to evict + months to re-rent) + court fees + lawyer + turnover. How we calculate.
Tenant screening
Reserved for a tenant-screening partner (credit, eviction and background checks). No partner yet; nothing here is a recommendation.
Rent-guarantee insurance
Reserved for a rent-guarantee or landlord insurance partner that covers unpaid rent and eviction costs. No partner yet.
Landlord-friendliness score: 77/100
Timeline 33.3/50 · right to cure 14/20 · statewide protections 30/30. How the score works.
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 EvictionMath estimate built from the state's notice period and court deadlines, last checked 2026-10-17.
How much notice does a landlord have to give for unpaid rent in Alabama?
7 business days to pay or move (Ala. Code § 35-9A-421).
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).
Is Alabama landlord-friendly for evictions?
Alabama scores 77 out of 100 on the EvictionMath 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
| Field | Source type | Link | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notice period | secondary source | www.nolo.com | 2026-10-17 |
| Court deadlines | official source | jackson.alacourt.gov | 2026-10-17 |
| Judgment to lockout | official source | law.justia.com | 2026-10-17 |
| Appeal | official source | law.justia.com | 2026-10-17 |
| Filing fee | official source | montgomery.alacourt.gov | 2026-10-17 |
| Service fee | official source | montgomery.alacourt.gov | 2026-10-17 |
| Lockout fee | unverified | none yet | 2026-10-17 |
| Median rent | official source | census.gov (ACS B25064) | 2026-10-17 |
Not yet verified for Alabama: lockout fee. Fields we couldn't source are left blank, never guessed. Found an error? Laws change; tell us via the newsletter reply.
Compare similar states
Illinois (77, 6 wk) · Rhode Island (77, 4.5 wk) · Georgia (79, 4 wk) · Michigan (75, 4 wk) · Tennessee (79, 5.5 wk)