Alabama Rules of Civil Procedure

The Alabama Rules of Civil Procedure were enacted by the Alabama Supreme Court to govern civil law practice in Alabama.  The rules posted below are current through the 2010 amendments.  We have posted the text of all of the rules as well as the committee comments, but we have not included the forms or the appendixes at this time.

The following links contain the text of each of the Alabama Rules of Civil Procedure:

I. SCOPE OF RULES — ONE FORM OF ACTION

• Rule 1.      Scope of Rules
• Rule 2.      One form of action

II. COMMENCEMENT OF ACTION; SERVICE OF PROCESS, PLEADINGS, MOTIONS, AND ORDERS

• Rule 3.      Commencement of action
• Rule 4.      Process: General and miscellaneous provisions
• Rule 4.1.  Process: Methods of in-state service
• Rule 4.2.  Process: Basis for and methods of out-of-state service
• Rule 4.3.  Process: Service by publication
• Rule 4.4:  Process: Basis for and methods of service in a foreign country
• Rule 5.      Service and filing of pleadings and other Papers
• Rule 5.1.  Privacy Protection for Court Filings
• Rule 6.      Time

III. PLEADINGS AND MOTIONS

• Rule 7.      Pleadings allowed; form of motions
• Rule 8.      General rules of pleading
• Rule 9.      Pleading special matters
• Rule 10.    Form of pleadings
• Rule 11.     Signing of pleading, motions, or other papers
• Rule 12.     Defenses and objections—When and how presented—By pleading or motion—Motion for judgment on the pleadings
• Rule 13.     Counterclaim and cross-claim
• Rule 14.     Third-party practice
• Rule 15.     Amended and supplemental pleadings
• Rule 16.     Pre-trial conferences; scheduling; management

IV. PARTIES

• Rule 17.     Parties plaintiff and defendant; capacity
• Rule 18.     Joinder of claims and remedies
• Rule 19.     Joinder of persons needed for just adjudication
• Rule 20.     Permissive joinder of parties
• Rule 21.     Misjoinder and nonjoinder of parties
• Rule 22.     Interpleader
• Rule 23.     Class actions
• Rule 23.1.  Derivative actions by shareholders
• Rule 23.2.  Actions relating to unincorporated associations
• Rule 24.     Intervention
• Rule 25.     Substitution of parties

V. DEPOSITIONS AND DISCOVERY

• Rule 26.     General provisions governing discovery
• Rule 27.     Discovery before action or pending appeal
• Rule 28.     Persons before whom depositions may be taken
• Rule 29.     Stipulations regarding discovery procedure
• Rule 30.     Depositions upon oral examination
• Rule 31.     Depositions upon written questions
• Rule 32.     Use of depositions in court proceedings
• Rule 33.     Interrogatories to parties
• Rule 34.     Production of documents and things and entry upon land for inspection and other purposes
• Rule 35.     Physical and mental examination of persons
• Rule 36.     Requests for admission
• Rule 37.     Failure to make discovery: Sanctions

VI. TRIALS

• Rule 38.     Jury trial of right
• Rule 39.     Trial by jury or by the court
• Rule 40.     Assignment of cases for trial
• Rule 41.     Dismissal of actions
• Rule 42.     Consolidation: Separate trials
• Rule 43.     Evidence
• Rule 44.     Proof of documents
• Rule 44.1.  Determination of foreign law
• Rule 45.     Subpoena
• Rule 46.     Exceptions unnecessary
• Rule 47.     Jurors
• Rule 48.     Juries of less Than 12 — Majority verdict
• Rule 49.     General verdicts, special verdicts, and interrogatories
• Rule 50.     Judgment as a matter of law in actions tried by jury; alternative motion for new trial; conditional rulings
• Rule 51.     Instructions to jury: objection
• Rule 52.     Findings by the court; judgment on partial findings
• Rule 53.     Masters

VII. JUDGMENT

• Rule 54.     Judgments; costs
• Rule 55.     Default
• Rule 56.     Summary judgment
• Rule 57.     Declaratory judgments
• Rule 58.     Rendition and entry of orders and judgments
• Rule 59.     New trials; amendment of judgments
• Rule 59.1.  Disposition of motion for new trial and other post-trial motions
• Rule 60.     Relief from judgment or order
• Rule 61.     Harmless error
• Rule 62.     Stay of proceedings to enforce a judgment
• Rule 63.     Inability of a judge to proceed

VIII. PROVISIONAL AND FINAL REMEDIES AND SPECIAL PROCEEDINGS

• Rule 64.     Seizure of person or property
• Rule 64A.  Notice to defendant of right to claim exemption from garnishment
•  Rule 64B. Contest of claim of exemption — Garnishment of money, choses in action or personal property
• Rule 65.     Injunctions
• Rule 65.1.  Security: Proceeding against sureties
• Rule 66.     Receivers
• Rule 67.     Deposit in court
• Rule 68.     Offer of judgment
• Rule 69.     Execution
• Rule 70.     Judgment for specific acts; vesting title
• Rule 70A. Contempt in civil cases
• Rule 71.     Process in behalf of and against persons not parties
• Rule 71A.  Condemnation of property. [Omitted]
• Rule 71B.   Appeals from arbitration awards
• Rule 71C.   Enforcement of arbitration awards

IX. APPEALS

• Rule 72-76. [Omitted]

X. CIRCUIT COURTS AND CLERKS

• Rule 77.     Circuit courts and clerks
• Rule 78.     Motion day
• Rule 79.     Books and records kept by the clerk and entries therein
• Rule 80.     Stenographic report or transcript as evidence

XI. GENERAL PROVISIONS

• Rule 81.     Applicability in general
• Rule 82.     Jurisdiction and venue
• Rule 83.     Local court rules
• Rule 84.     Forms
• Rule 85.     Title
• Rule 86.     Effective date
• Rule 87.     Limited-Scope Representation

To discuss your options in appealing your case, call Bill Pfeifer at (800) 737-3702 Extension 1. You can also use the online Contact form on this website to send him an email about your situation.

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