How long you have in Alabama
Every kind of claim has its own window, counted from the day the clock started. Miss it and the court usually cannot hear the claim.
| Kind of claim | Agreement | Window | Counted from | Rule |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unpaid Invoice | In writing | 6 years | the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken | Ala. Code §6-2-34(4), (5), (9) |
| Unpaid Invoice | Spoken or by conduct | 3 years | the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken | Ala. Code §6-2-37(1) |
| Unpaid Loan | Either | 6 years | the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken | Ala. Code §6-2-34(4), (5), (9) |
| Contractor Dispute | Either | 6 years | the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken | Ala. Code §6-2-34(4), (5), (9) |
| Auto Repair | Either | 6 years | the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken | Ala. Code §6-2-34(4), (5), (9) |
| Security Deposit | Either | 6 years | the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken | Ala. Code §6-2-34(4), (5), (9) |
| Other | Either | 6 years | the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken | Ala. Code §6-2-34(4), (5), (9) |
| Property Damage | Either | 2 years | the day the damage happened | Ala. Code §6-2-38(l) |
| Sale of Goods | Either | 4 years | the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken | Ala. Code §7-2-725(1) |
Worked example
If the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken was 2026-03-15, a window of 6 years runs out on 2032-03-15. That is the same arithmetic the check uses: calendar months, clamped to the end of the month, and no roll forward to the next court day.
More about Alabama
Common questions
- 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.
- How long do you have on a property damage claim in Alabama?
- 2 years, counted from the day the damage happened, under Ala. Code §6-2-38(l).
- How long do you have on a sale of goods claim in Alabama?
- 4 years, counted from the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken, under Ala. Code §7-2-725(1).
- 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).
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 §6-2-34(4), (5), (9) · effective 1975-01-01 · A claim on a written promise, a loan, or another agreement must be filed within six years of when it was broken.
- Ala. Code §6-2-37(1) · effective 1975-01-01 · A claim for money owed on a running account with no written agreement must be filed within three years of the last item on the account. This is the shorter of the two windows that can apply to an unpaid bill.
- Ala. Code §6-2-38(l) · effective 1985-01-01 · A claim for damage to your property caused by carelessness must be filed within two years of the damage. Some property claims have a longer window; this is the shorter one.
- Ala. Code §7-2-725(1) · effective 1967-01-01 · A claim about a sale of goods must be filed within four years of the breach.
FairSquare assembles documents and explains your court's rules. It is not a substitute for advice about your situation.