📘 Alabama Legal Statutes & Case Law Summaries
Explore frequently applied Alabama laws across civil, domestic, criminal, probate, and small claims matters. Use the search box below to find terms, statute numbers, or topic keywords instantly.
🟦 Civil & Small Claims
§6-6-350: Sets the Alabama small claims jurisdiction limit at $6,000. Claims above this must go through regular civil court. Used by Small Claims Wizard
§6-6-372: Venue must be the District Court in the county where the defendant resides or the dispute occurred.
🟧 Property & Landlord-Tenant Law
§35-9A-201: Landlords must return security deposits within 60 days of lease termination. Itemized deductions are required.
§35-9A-422: Tenants may sue for deposit withholding or damage if landlord violates lease terms.
🟩 Divorce, Custody & Alimony
§30-2-5: Alabama recognizes both fault-based (adultery, abuse) and no-fault divorce on grounds like incompatibility.
§30-2-51: Alimony is determined based on length of marriage, income disparity, and financial need. Can be periodic or rehabilitative.
§30-3-1: Custody decisions follow the “best interest of the child” standard, factoring housing stability, education, and parental fitness.
🟥 Criminal & Traffic Law
§32-5A-191: Defines DUI as driving under the influence or BAC ≥ 0.08%. Penalties escalate on repeat convictions.
§32-6-49.3: Licenses may be suspended when drivers accumulate more than 12 points in 24 months. Restoration may require SR-22 or reinstatement fee.
§13A-11-7: Disorderly conduct includes public fighting, obstruction, or loud verbal abuse. It’s a Class C misdemeanor.
🟪 Probate & Guardianship
§43-2-60: Estates under $35,000 may qualify for a simplified affidavit process—bypassing full probate court proceedings.
§43-8-250: If no will exists, Alabama’s intestate succession guides property to spouse first, then children, then surviving parents.
🔍 Case Law Examples
Smith v. Jones – Cullman County (2021): Small claims dispute for unpaid landscaping work. Plaintiff won after showing text messages and receipt photos.
Doe v. Roe – Morgan County (2022): Custody awarded to mother due to stable housing and proximity to child’s school. Validated “best interest” doctrine.
State v. Adams – Winston County (2023): License suspension upheld after traffic violation pattern exceeded point limit under §32-6-49.3.
📎 Tools Based on These Laws
Learn Alabama law in plain English. This searchable guide breaks down the most commonly used statutes, from small claims and divorce to DUI and inheritance—each with simple explanations and real-world case examples. Whether you’re filing a case or just preparing to consult an attorney, start here.