What it costs to file in Alabama
The court charges this when you hand in the claim. It is separate from the amount you are claiming.
Set by each court
This state does not set one statewide fee. The court where you file publishes its own.
More about Alabama
Common questions
- What does it cost to file a small claims claim in Alabama?
- Alabama does not set one statewide fee. Each court publishes its own, so check the court where you will file.
- How much can you claim in small claims court in Alabama?
- An individual can claim up to $6,000. A business can claim up to $6,000. A public agency can claim up to $6,000. That comes from Ala. Code §12-12-31(a).
- Which court handles small claims in Alabama?
- District Court, Small Claims Division. The small claims division of the district court in the county where the other side lives or has an office.
- How long do you have to bring a small claims claim in Alabama?
- The shortest window is 2 years, counted from the day the damage happened, under Ala. Code §6-2-38(l). Other kinds of claim run longer; the time-limit page lists each one.
Verify with your court
Numbers change, and a court can post its own variation. Open Alabama's small claims page and confirm anything you are about to rely on.
Open the court's small claims pageVerified on 2026-09-05, sources:
Verified on 2026-09-05, sources: Rules effective from 2019-09-01.
- Ala. Code §12-19-71(a) · effective 2019-09-01 · The statewide docket fee is $35 for claims up to $1,500 and $109 for claims up to $3,000, and counties add local charges on top. Your county's district court clerk has the total.
FairSquare assembles documents and explains your court's rules. It is not a substitute for advice about your situation.