Alabama Small Claims Court Filing Fees (2026)
Find your county's fee
Each Alabama court sets its own fee, so the county matters. Pick yours to see the court and what's included.
Autauga County District Court
We haven't verified this county's fee from an official source yet. Call the clerk before you go. Verified Alabama courts charge between $37 and $283.
Court, contact and what's includedBaldwin County District Court, Civil Division (Small Claims)
One defendant. Sheriff's fee $20 per document served. Additional defendant $10.
Court, contact and what's includedBarbour County District Court (Small Claims)
One defendant who lives in Barbour County; if the defendant lives outside the county the fees are $15 lower ($80 / $154 / $243).
Court, contact and what's includedBibb County District Court (Small Claims)
One defendant, served by process server or certified mail. Sheriff service adds $15 ($69/$143/$232). Additional defendant $30.
Court, contact and what's includedBlount County District Court (Small Claims)
One defendant.
Court, contact and what's includedBullock County District Court (Small Claims)
One defendant: $77 (up to $1,500), $151 ($1,500.01-$3,000), $240 ($3,000.01-$6,000). $15 per additional defendant; sheriff service is listed separately at $15. Page shows no effective date.
Court, contact and what's includedButler County District Court (Small Claims)
One defendant filing fee.
Court, contact and what's includedCalhoun County District Court, Civil Division (Small Claims)
One defendant. Additional defendant $10.
Court, contact and what's includedChambers County District Court (Small Claims)
One defendant; fee at filing, service fees extra.
Court, contact and what's includedCherokee County District Court (Small Claims)
One defendant; additional $25 sheriff service fee per defendant served in Cherokee County.
Court, contact and what's includedChilton County District Court (Small Claims)
Additional defendants $10 each.
Court, contact and what's includedChoctaw County District Court
We haven't verified this county's fee from an official source yet. Call the clerk before you go. Verified Alabama courts charge between $37 and $283.
Court, contact and what's includedClarke County District Court
We haven't verified this county's fee from an official source yet. Call the clerk before you go. Verified Alabama courts charge between $37 and $283.
Court, contact and what's includedClay County District Court (Small Claims)
One defendant filing fee; the page lists additional service fees separately.
Court, contact and what's includedCleburne County District Court
We haven't verified this county's fee from an official source yet. Call the clerk before you go. Verified Alabama courts charge between $37 and $283.
Court, contact and what's includedCoffee County District Court (Small Claims)
One defendant; additional defendants $10 each.
Court, contact and what's includedColbert County District Court
We haven't verified this county's fee from an official source yet. Call the clerk before you go. Verified Alabama courts charge between $37 and $283.
Court, contact and what's includedConecuh County District Court
We haven't verified this county's fee from an official source yet. Call the clerk before you go. Verified Alabama courts charge between $37 and $283.
Court, contact and what's includedCoosa County District Court (Small Claims)
One defendant: $88 (up to $1,500), $162 ($1,500.01-$3,000), $251 ($3,000.01-$6,000). $15 per additional defendant. Page shows no effective date.
Court, contact and what's includedCovington County District Court
We haven't verified this county's fee from an official source yet. Call the clerk before you go. Verified Alabama courts charge between $37 and $283.
Court, contact and what's includedCrenshaw County District Court
We haven't verified this county's fee from an official source yet. Call the clerk before you go. Verified Alabama courts charge between $37 and $283.
Court, contact and what's includedDale County District Court
We haven't verified this county's fee from an official source yet. Call the clerk before you go. Verified Alabama courts charge between $37 and $283.
Court, contact and what's includedDallas County District Court (Small Claims)
One defendant; additional defendants $10 each.
Court, contact and what's includedDeKalb County District Court (Small Claims)
One defendant: $87.50 (up to $1,500), $161.50 ($1,500.01-$3,000), $250.50 ($3,000.01-$6,000). Additional defendant $10 each; additional plaintiffs $50 ($500 max); default judgment (over $3,000) $50; garnishment and execution $30 each; certified mail postage extra.
Court, contact and what's includedElmore County District Court (Small Claims)
One plaintiff, one defendant; additional defendants and plaintiffs cost extra.
Court, contact and what's includedEscambia County District Court
We haven't verified this county's fee from an official source yet. Call the clerk before you go. Verified Alabama courts charge between $37 and $283.
Court, contact and what's includedEtowah County District Court, Small Claims Division
One defendant. Total = base cost + $2 local fee, as itemized on the schedule. Additional defendant $10.
Court, contact and what's includedFayette County District Court (Small Claims)
One defendant: $57 (up to $1,500), $131 ($1,500.01-$3,000), $220 ($3,000.01-$6,000). $10 per additional defendant; garnishment and execution $30 each. Page shows no effective date.
Court, contact and what's includedFranklin County District Court (Small Claims)
We haven't verified this county's fee from an official source yet. Call the clerk before you go. Verified Alabama courts charge between $37 and $283.
Court, contact and what's includedGeneva County District Court (Small Claims)
We haven't verified this county's fee from an official source yet. Call the clerk before you go. Verified Alabama courts charge between $37 and $283.
Court, contact and what's includedGreene County District Court (Small Claims)
One defendant filing fee.
Court, contact and what's includedHale County District Court
We haven't verified this county's fee from an official source yet. Call the clerk before you go. Verified Alabama courts charge between $37 and $283.
Court, contact and what's includedHenry County District Court
We haven't verified this county's fee from an official source yet. Call the clerk before you go. Verified Alabama courts charge between $37 and $283.
Court, contact and what's includedHouston County District Court, Small Claims Jurisdiction
One defendant. Sheriff service fee $25 per document requiring service; additional defendant $10 if served by the sheriff.
Court, contact and what's includedJackson County District Court (Small Claims)
One defendant; listed as filing fee plus service fee(s); sheriff service $10 listed separately.
Court, contact and what's includedJefferson County District Court, Birmingham and Bessemer Divisions (small claims). The fee depends on which court covers the defendant's address.
Two divisions of the District Court: the Bessemer Division serves the Bessemer Cutoff (western Jefferson County, including Bessemer); the Birmingham Division serves the rest of the county.
Court, contact and what's includedLamar County District Court (Small Claims)
One defendant filing fee. Additional defendant $10.
Court, contact and what's includedLauderdale County courts
We haven't verified this county's fee from an official source yet. Call the clerk before you go. Verified Alabama courts charge between $37 and $283.
Court, contact and what's includedLawrence County District Court (Small Claims)
One defendant; additional defendants $15 each.
Court, contact and what's includedLee County District Court, Small Claims Division
One defendant, service by certified mail. Add $20 for service by the Lee County Sheriff ($122/$196/$285). Additional defendant $10 + service fee; additional plaintiffs $50 ($500 max). Fee sheet is dated effective 8/1/2015 but is the county's current published schedule.
Court, contact and what's includedLimestone County District Court (Small Claims Division, 39th Circuit)
We haven't verified this county's fee from an official source yet. Call the clerk before you go. Verified Alabama courts charge between $37 and $283.
Court, contact and what's includedLowndes County District Court (Small Claims)
One defendant, sheriff's service included: $67 (up to $1,500), $141 ($1,500.01-$3,000), $230 ($3,000.01-$6,000). $25 per additional defendant; garnishment and execution $45 each. Page shows no effective date.
Court, contact and what's includedMacon County District Court (Small Claims)
One defendant filing fee.
Court, contact and what's includedMadison County District Court, Small Claims (Huntsville)
One defendant, service by certified mail. Service by the Madison County Sheriff adds $20 per defendant ($98 / $176 on the lower tiers). $10 per additional defendant; $50 per additional plaintiff.
Court, contact and what's includedMarengo County District Court
We haven't verified this county's fee from an official source yet. Call the clerk before you go. Verified Alabama courts charge between $37 and $283.
Court, contact and what's includedMarion County District Court (Small Claims)
One defendant; service fees extra.
Court, contact and what's includedDistrict Court of Marshall County (Small Claims)
One defendant; $10 each additional defendant; sheriff service $25 (effective 2023-08-01); certified mail $10.30 for one ounce.
Court, contact and what's includedMobile County District Court, Civil and Small Claims Division
One defendant; $10 per additional defendant, $50 per additional plaintiff. Service extra (certified mail $10.44+, restricted delivery $18.84+ required for individuals). No personal checks.
Court, contact and what's includedMonroe County District Court (Small Claims)
Small claims $37 (up to $1,500) and $111 ($1,500.01-$3,000); the $3,001-$6,000 tier uses the page's District Civil ($3,000.01-$10,000) fee of $222, the same docket tier other Alabama counties list for $3,001-$6,000. Fees marked * exclude a $20 special fee for papers served by the Monroe County Sheriff (Act 2011-243). $10 per additional defendant. Page shows no effective date.
Court, contact and what's includedDistrict Court of Montgomery County (Small Claims)
One defendant; sheriff service extra.
Court, contact and what's includedMorgan County District Court (Small Claims)
One defendant served by the in-county sheriff: $96 (claims up to $1,500), $170 ($1,501-$3,000), $259 ($3,001-$6,000). With out-of-county sheriff, a process server or certified mail the fee is $17 less ($79, $153, $242). Each extra defendant adds $27. Default judgment $50. The district court filing-fee sheet shows no effective date.
Court, contact and what's includedPerry County District Court (Small Claims)
One defendant filing fee. Matches the Perry County civil fee sheet.
Court, contact and what's includedPickens County District Court (Small Claims)
One defendant: $92 (up to $1,500), $166 ($1,500.01-$3,000), $255 ($3,000.01-$6,000). $40 per additional defendant; certified-mail postage extra. Page shows no effective date.
Court, contact and what's includedPike County District Court (Small Claims)
One defendant; service fees extra.
Court, contact and what's includedRandolph County District Court
We haven't verified this county's fee from an official source yet. Call the clerk before you go. Verified Alabama courts charge between $37 and $283.
Court, contact and what's includedRussell County District Court (Small Claims)
One defendant; sheriff service fee of $15 on civil filings is listed separately.
Court, contact and what's includedShelby County District Court, Small Claims Division
One defendant. Additional defendant $20; additional plaintiffs $50 ($500 max). Sheriff service $50 per party per document.
Court, contact and what's includedSheriff service inside St. Clair County $25/defendant extra ($84/$158/$247 w/ service); certified mail service billed separately at cost.
Court, contact and what's includedSumter County District Court
We haven't verified this county's fee from an official source yet. Call the clerk before you go. Verified Alabama courts charge between $37 and $283.
Court, contact and what's includedTalladega County District Court
We haven't verified this county's fee from an official source yet. Call the clerk before you go. Verified Alabama courts charge between $37 and $283.
Court, contact and what's includedTallapoosa County District Court
We haven't verified this county's fee from an official source yet. Call the clerk before you go. Verified Alabama courts charge between $37 and $283.
Court, contact and what's includedTuscaloosa County District Court (Small Claims)
We haven't verified this county's fee from an official source yet. Call the clerk before you go. Verified Alabama courts charge between $37 and $283.
Court, contact and what's includedWalker County District Court (Small Claims)
Fee at filing, sheriff service included, one defendant: $91.50 (up to $1,500), $173 ($1,501-$3,000), $262 ($3,001-$6,000). $27 per additional defendant; additional plaintiffs $50 ($500 max). Page shows no effective date.
Court, contact and what's includedWashington County District Court
We haven't verified this county's fee from an official source yet. Call the clerk before you go. Verified Alabama courts charge between $37 and $283.
Court, contact and what's includedWilcox County District Court (Small Claims)
One defendant: $68 (up to $1,500), $142 ($1,500.01-$3,000), $231 ($3,000.01-$6,000). $10 per additional defendant. Page shows no effective date.
Court, contact and what's includedWinston County District Court
We haven't verified this county's fee from an official source yet. Call the clerk before you go. Verified Alabama courts charge between $37 and $283.
Court, contact and what's includedFees across Alabama
Lowest small claims filing fee in each county. Darker costs more.
Largest counties
| County | Filing fee |
|---|---|
| Jefferson2 courts | $66–$229 |
| MadisonMadison County District Court, Small Claims | $78–$245 |
| MobileMobile County District Court, Civil and Small Claims Division | $61–$224 |
| BaldwinBaldwin County District Court, Civil Division | $82–$245 |
| TuscaloosaTuscaloosa County District Court | Not verified |
| ShelbyShelby County District Court, Small Claims Division | $60–$223 |
| MontgomeryDistrict Court of Montgomery County | $52–$215 |
| LeeLee County District Court, Small Claims Division | $102–$265 |
| MorganMorgan County District Court | $96–$259 |
Before you file
Alabama allows you to file in the county where the defendant lives or does business.
Many courts charge extra for each added defendant or for certified-mail service. Your county's result above lists what applies.
If you can't afford the fee, ask the clerk how to file without paying up front. The court decides. Alabama fee waiver guide
Estimate your fee by claim amount
Small Claims Filing Fee Calculator
Enter your state and claim amount to see the official court filing fee.
Fees in this state depend on the county where you file.
Each court in this county sets its own small claims fee.
Alabama small claims fees by county
In Alabama the fee depends on where you file. 43 of 67 counties show a fee verified on an official page; the rest show the verified range and the clerk to contact.
- Autauga County Not yet verified
- Baldwin County $82 to $245
- Barbour County $95 to $258
- Bibb County $54 to $217
- Blount County $102 to $265
- Bullock County $77 to $240
- Butler County $52 to $215
- Calhoun County $107 to $270
- Chambers County $102 to $265
- Cherokee County $75.50 to $238.50
- Chilton County $57 to $220
- Choctaw County Not yet verified
- Clarke County Not yet verified
- Clay County $120 to $283
- Cleburne County Not yet verified
- Coffee County $55 to $218
- Colbert County Not yet verified
- Conecuh County Not yet verified
- Coosa County $88 to $251
- Covington County Not yet verified
- Crenshaw County Not yet verified
- Cullman County $82 to $245
- Dale County Not yet verified
- Dallas County $61 to $224
- DeKalb County $87.50 to $250.50
- Elmore County $52 to $215
- Escambia County Not yet verified
- Etowah County $52 to $215
- Fayette County $57 to $220
- Franklin County Not yet verified
- Geneva County Not yet verified
- Greene County $64 to $268
- Hale County Not yet verified
- Henry County Not yet verified
- Houston County $72 to $235
- Jackson County $72 to $235
- Jefferson County $66 to $229
- Lamar County $57 to $220
- Lauderdale County Not yet verified
- Lawrence County $56 to $219
- Lee County $102 to $265
- Limestone County Not yet verified
- Lowndes County $67 to $230
- Macon County $81 to $244
- Madison County $78 to $245
- Marengo County Not yet verified
- Marion County $50 to $213
- Marshall County $64 to $227
- Mobile County $61 to $224
- Monroe County $37 to $222
- Montgomery County $52 to $215
- Morgan County $96 to $259
- Perry County $102 to $265
- Pickens County $92 to $255
- Pike County $53 to $216
- Randolph County Not yet verified
- Russell County $85 to $248
- Shelby County $60 to $223
- St. Clair County $59 to $222
- Sumter County Not yet verified
- Talladega County Not yet verified
- Tallapoosa County Not yet verified
- Tuscaloosa County Not yet verified
- Walker County $91.50 to $262
- Washington County Not yet verified
- Wilcox County $68 to $231
- Winston County Not yet verified
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Alabama Small Claims Filing Fees Explained
To file a small claims case in the Small Claims Court, you must pay a filing fee at the time you submit your paperwork. In Alabama, filing fees are $37–$283 depending on the amount of your claim.
Tip
Alabama allows you to file in the county where the defendant lives or does business.You can recover the filing fee
If you win your case, ask the judge to add the filing fee to your judgment. The defendant would then owe you the original claim plus court costs.Fee waiver available
Can't afford the fee? Ask the court clerk for an In Forma Pauperis (IFP) application. Alabama courts generally waive fees for low-income filers — bring proof of income.Source: Alabama official court website ↗
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Frequently Asked Questions: Alabama
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