Title 6

Forcible entry being in its nature adverse and unlawful, no demand need be made or notice given except such as is required in the Code to support an action or proceeding based on an entry with actual force. (Code 1923, §8029; Code 1940, T. 7, §992.)

Courts having jurisdiction under this article must be held open at all times for the consideration and determination of questions arising under this article, and judgments had thereon without delay. (Code 1867, §3298; Code 1876, §3695; Code 1886, §3379; Code 1896, §2125; Code 190…

The following or similar forms may be used when appropriate in forcible entry and unlawful detainer proceedings; but they are not exclusive of other appropriate forms: Judgment. A. B. v. C. D. Came the parties on the ______ day of _____, and upon evidence I find the said C. D. gu…

The forcible entry upon and detainer, or the unlawful detainer, of lands, tenements and hereditaments is cognizable before the district court of the county in which the offense is committed. (Code 1852, §2850; Code 1867, §3297; Code 1876, §3694; Code 1886, §3378; Code 1896, §2124…

The complaints provided for in this article must be filed with, and be tried by, the district court for the county in which the lands or tenements are situated. (Code 1852, §2868; Code 1867, §3317; Code 1876, §3714; Code 1886, §3385; Code 1896, §2131; Code 1907, §4267; Code 1923,…

(a) Upon complaint being made, the district judge shall issue a notice to the party against whom the complaint is made to the following effect: The State of Alabama, ________ County. To ________ You are hereby commanded to be and appear before me, at _____ on the _____ day of ___…

Any sheriff or constable neglecting or refusing to execute any process placed in his hands by a district court judge by virtue of the authority conferred by this article, forfeits to the party aggrieved $200, to be recovered by action in the circuit court. (Code 1852, §2862; Code…

(a) Any witness, duly subpoenaed and failing to attend or refusing to testify may be fined by the district court judge not exceeding $100, for the use of the county, for which he may issue execution directed to the constable. (b) The judgment specified in subsection (a) of this s…

If the parties appear, an issue must be made between them upon the complaint, but if the defendant, having been duly cited, does not appear or, appearing, declines to plead, the case proceeds as if the defendant had denied the allegations of the complaint; or, for good cause, the…

The estate or merits of the title cannot be inquired into on the trial of any complaint filed under this article, but all legal and equitable defenses may be had against a recovery for damages or for the unlawful detention of the land. (Code 1852, §2859; Code 1867, §3307; Code 18…

(a) If the judge determines in favor of the plaintiff, he must record the decision and enter judgment with costs, upon which he must issue a writ of execution commanding the sheriff or the constable to restore the plaintiff to possession or place him in possession of his lands an…

Any party may appeal from a judgment entered against him or her by a district court to the circuit court at any time within seven days after the entry thereof, and appeal and the proceedings thereon shall in all respects, except as provided in this article, be governed by this co…

(a) Notwithstanding any other provisions of law or of the Alabama Rules of Civil Procedure, in cases of forcible entry or unlawful detainer, an appeal to circuit court or to appellate court does not prevent the issue of a writ of restitution or possession unless the defendant pay…

In the event that the plaintiff is placed in possession under a writ of restitution or possession, and on appeal the judgment is reversed and one entered for the defendant or the proceeding on appeal is quashed or dismissed, the circuit court may award a writ of restitution or po…

In cases of forcible entry or unlawful detainer, the judgment, if against the appellant, must be entered in the circuit court against him and the sureties on the appeal or certiorari bond, including the costs in the inferior and circuit courts, and if the appeal or certiorari was…

A “garnishment,” as employed in this article, is process to reach and subject money or effects of a defendant in attachment, in a judgment or in a pending action commenced in the ordinary form in the possession or under the control of a third person, or debts owing such defendant…

The provisions of Section 6-6-143 are applicable to garnishments. (Code 1896, §2186; Code 1907, §4315; Code 1923, §8066; Code 1940, T. 7, §1010.)

The plaintiff in any pending action for the recovery of money or the plaintiff or assignee in any judgment on which execution can issue may obtain process of garnishment as defined in Section 6-6-370; provided, that no garnishment shall issue prior to a final judgment, pursuant t…

To obtain such writ of garnishment, the plaintiff, his agent or attorney must make, before an officer authorized to administer oaths, and file, with the clerk of the court in which the action is pending or the judgment was entered, an affidavit stating the amount due from the def…

When the garnishment is in aid of a pending action, the plaintiff, his agent or attorney must also give bond in double the amount claimed in the action, with sufficient surety, to be approved by the officer issuing the writ, with condition that the plaintiff will prosecute the ga…

Upon the filing of the affidavit or the affidavit and bond, as the case may be, the officer filing the same must issue process of garnishment and a copy thereof for each garnishee, to be served by the proper officer, requiring the garnishee to appear within 30 days and file an an…

When the defendant resides within the state and the garnishment is issued on a judgment or in a pending action in which an appearance has not been entered for the defendant, the officer issuing the garnishment must issue notice thereof to the defendant, which notice must be serve…

(a) Should service of notice of a garnishment on a judgment in which an appearance has not been entered for the defendant be returned not found or otherwise not accomplished, service of the notice of garnishment may be perfected by the posting and mailing of the notice upon motio…

If the garnishee dies after he has been summoned as garnishee and pending the litigation, the proceedings may be revived against his legal representatives. Such proceedings may also be revived against the legal representatives of a contestant who dies, after notice to appear and …

A debt or demand which is subject to garnishment may be reached and subjected though an action may be pending thereon; and if the action is not pending in the court from which the garnishment issues, the court, on proof by the garnishee of the pendency of the garnishment, must, o…

(a) Executors and administrators may be garnished for debts due by the testator or intestate to the defendant and may have process of garnishment in their representative character. (b) Executors and administrators may be garnished for debts due by the legatees or distributees, bu…

Money in hands of an attorney-at-law, sheriff, or other officer may be garnished; and, in the case of officers of the court, the money must be paid into the court to abide the result of the action, unless the court otherwise directs. (Code 1852, §2521; Code 1867, §2948; Code 1876…

(a) Money or effects of the defendant in the hands of a trustee may be garnished and held subject to the validity of the instrument creating the trust or the excess remaining in the trustee’s hands after the execution of the trust, if valid; but if the deed is held void, the trus…

Any creditor of a corporation may, by garnishment, subject the unpaid subscription of any stockholder in such corporation to the payment of its debts, without regard to whether the corporation can commence an action against the stockholder for such subscription or not. (Code 1852…

(a) When garnishment has been issued in aid of a pending action or upon a judgment, the defendant may make and file with the judge or clerk issuing the garnishment bond in such sum as the judge or clerk may prescribe, not exceeding twice the amount of the plaintiff’s demand, paya…

(a) The defendant may, instead of the bond mentioned in Section 6-6-430, give bond in double the amount of the plaintiff’s demand, payable to the plaintiff, with sufficient surety, to be approved by the judge or clerk and conditioned to pay such judgment as may be entered or asce…

The garnishee must answer under oath according to the terms of the garnishment; and, upon filing, the clerk or register shall give the plaintiff and defendant notice, and the garnishee may, if required by the plaintiff, be examined orally in the presence of the court. Any demand …

No person shall answer on behalf of any corporation any process of garnishment unless he shall make affidavit that he is the duly authorized agent of the corporation to make such answer and that he has knowledge of the facts stated therein. (Code 1867, §2897; Code 1876, §3222; Co…

If the garnishee admits the possession of money belonging to the defendant, he must pay the same or so much thereof as may be necessary to satisfy the plaintiff’s demand and costs into court to await the order of the court; and, if he fails to make such payment, he is liable as i…

(a) When the garnishee admits indebtedness or liability to the defendant and the defendant has not executed bond for the dissolution of the garnishment, as provided in Division 4 of this article, the garnishee may, by order of the court first had and obtained, pay the amount of s…

If the garnishee answers and admits indebtedness to the defendant, judgment thereon must be entered against him, after judgment against the defendant, for the amount so admitted, if less than the amount of the judgment against the defendant, or, if more or equal thereto, for the …

If the garnishee is liable for the delivery of personal property or for the payment of money which may be discharged by the delivery of personal property, the value of the property must be ascertained and a judgment entered against the garnishee that if he does not, by a day to b…

If the garnishee admits the possession of effects of the defendant, the subject of levy and sale under legal process, judgment of condemnation must be entered that such effects be delivered upon demand after the entry of judgment in favor of the plaintiff in the original action, …

If the garnishee fails to appear and answer, a conditional judgment must be entered against him for the amount of the plaintiff’s claim, as ascertained by his judgment, to be made absolute unless he appears within 30 days after notice of the conditional judgment issued by the cle…

The plaintiff, his agent, or attorney may controvert the answer of the garnishee by making oath within 30 days after notice of the filing of the answer that he believes it to be untrue. Thereupon, an issue must be made up, under the direction of the court, in which the plaintiff …

The defendant, upon the coming in of the answer, may, within 30 days after notice of the filing of the answer, allege that the garnishee is indebted to him in a larger sum than he has admitted, is otherwise liable to him on a demand, the subject of garnishment, or that he holds m…

If such issue is found against the garnishee, judgment must be entered against him in favor of the plaintiff, if necessary, to satisfy his claim or judgment against the defendant or in favor of the defendant, if such judgment has been satisfied. (Code 1852, §2548; Code 1867, §297…

The judgment condemning the debt, demand, money, or effects to the satisfaction of the plaintiff’s demand is conclusive as between the garnishee and the defendant to the extent of such judgment, unless the defendant prosecutes to effect an appeal from such judgment, which he may …

When the answer of the garnishee is not controverted or, if controverted, is found for him, he shall be allowed $3 per day during his attendance when such attendance is required, together with five cents per mile, computed according to the usual route traveled, going to and retur…

(a) When the garnishee, by his answer as originally filed or by any supplemental answer thereafter, alleges, at any time before final judgment against him, that he has been notified that another person claims title to, or an interest in, the debt, demand, money, or effects which,…

An appeal lies to the supreme court or the court of civil appeals, as the case may be, at the instance of the plaintiff, the defendant, the garnishee, or the contestant, or claimant. (Code 1852, §2555; Code 1867, §2983; Code 1876, §3308; Code 1886, §2990; Code 1896, §2205; Code 1…