Alabama Court Rules (2026)
Browse all 23 rule sets with 796 rules, each with plain-English summaries and committee notes. Each rule includes the full text, a plain-English summary, committee notes, amendment history, and cross-references to related rules.
Alabama Court Rules & Rules of Practice
How this jurisdiction's courts and rules are organized, written for lawyers new to it: the court system, every ruleset a litigator touches, and how a case actually moves. Last verified September 24, 2026. For informational purposes only.
- Court System Overview
- The Ruleset Map
- Civil Litigation Mechanics
- Criminal Practice Mechanics
- Evidence
- Appellate Mechanics
- Rules of Professional Conduct
- Attorney Discipline & Enforcement
- Newcomer Orientation Notes
- Sources & Verification
Alabama Rules of Criminal Procedure
The Alabama Rules of Criminal Procedure govern criminal proceedings from complaint through post-conviction review, covering arrest warrants and summonses, preliminary hearings, the right to counsel, release and bail, indictment and information, arraignment and pleas, discovery, trial and jury selection, sentencing, and post-conviction relief under Rule 32.
Updated 2026 Edition
BrowseAlabama Rules of Civil Procedure
The Alabama Rules of Civil Procedure govern civil actions in the circuit and district courts, covering commencement of an action and service of process, pleadings and motions, parties and joinder, discovery and depositions, trial and juries, judgments and summary judgment, provisional and final remedies, and appeals.
Updated 2026 Edition
BrowseAlabama Rules of Evidence
The Alabama Rules of Evidence govern the admission of evidence in Alabama courts, covering relevance and its limits, privileges, witnesses and impeachment, opinion and expert testimony, hearsay and its exceptions, authentication and identification, and the contents of writings, recordings and photographs.
Updated 2026 Edition
BrowseAlabama Rules of Appellate Procedure
The Alabama Rules of Appellate Procedure govern appeals to the Supreme Court of Alabama and the Courts of Civil and Criminal Appeals, covering appealable judgments, the notice of appeal, stays pending appeal, the clerk's record and the reporter's transcript, briefs and oral argument, opinions and rehearing, certiorari review, costs, and electronic filing.
Updated 2026 Edition
BrowseAlabama Rules of Professional Conduct
The Alabama Rules of Professional Conduct govern the ethical obligations of lawyers practising in Alabama, covering the client-lawyer relationship, confidentiality and conflicts of interest, the lawyer as counselor and advocate, transactions with persons other than clients, law firms and supervisory duties, public service, information about legal services, and maintaining the integrity of the profession.
Updated 2026 Edition
BrowseAlabama Rules of Judicial Administration
The Alabama Rules of Judicial Administration govern the administration of the unified judicial system, covering the presiding judge and court administration, case assignment and continuances, transcripts and court reporting, the child-support guidelines and their schedules, access to court records and electronic data, and the uniform traffic ticket and complaint.
Updated 2026 Edition
BrowseAlabama Rules of Juvenile Procedure
The Alabama Rules of Juvenile Procedure govern delinquency, dependency and termination-of-parental-rights proceedings in the juvenile courts, covering petitions and summonses, detention and shelter care, the right to counsel and guardians ad litem, adjudicatory and dispositional hearings, transfer to adult court, and appeals.
Updated 2026 Edition
BrowseAlabama Rules of Disciplinary Procedure
The whole of Alabama lawyer discipline, 42 rules. The Preamble states the basis: the Supreme Court of Alabama has inherent responsibility to supervise the conduct of lawyers who are its officers. Rule 1 sets the jurisdiction, Rule 2 the grounds for discipline and Rule 8 the types of discipline, with Rule 8.1 the Prediscipline Diversion Program. The bodies are Rule 4 the Disciplinary Board, Rule 4.2 the disciplinary hearing officer, Rule 5 the Disciplinary Commission, Rule 5.1 the Board of Disciplinary Appeals, Rule 6 the General Counsel and Rule 7 local grievance committees. Rules 9, 10 and 11 make noncompliance with the Client Security Fund rules, the MCLE rules and the IOLTA rules themselves disciplinable. Rule 12 is the procedure, Rule 16 formal charges, Rule 17 subpoena power and pre-trial proceedings, Rule 19 hearings, Rule 20 interim and summary suspension, Rule 22 mandatory suspension or disbarment, Rules 23 and 24 disbarment and discipline by consent, Rule 25 reciprocal discipline, Rule 27 transfer to disability inactive status and Rule 28 reinstatement. Rule 29 provides for a trustee or supervising lawyer to protect the interests of a disbarred or suspended lawyer's clients, and Rule 36 the unauthorized-practice-of-law proceeding.
Updated 2026 Edition
BrowseRules Governing Admission to the Alabama State Bar
How a lawyer is admitted in Alabama, nine rules numbered in roman. Rule I requires every person seeking admission to register within 60 days following the commencement of law study. Rule II governs the application itself, Rule III persons entitled to admission without examination and Rule IV persons entitled to admission by examination. Rule V establishes the Committee on Character and Fitness. Rule VI is published as two documents and stored that way — VI(A) the Board of Bar Examiners and VI(B) the bar examination. Rule VII covers the admission of foreign attorneys pro hac vice and Rule VIII their admission as authorized house counsel.
Updated 2026 Edition
BrowseAlabama Small Claims Rules
The Alabama Small Claims Rules govern small claims actions in the district courts, providing a simplified procedure for commencement and service, pleadings, default, trial without a jury, judgment and costs, and appeal to the circuit court.
Updated 2026 Edition
BrowseAlabama Rules of Procedure of the Court of the Judiciary
The trial court for judges, 27 rules adopted March 11, 1974 under the Judicial Article — Amendment No. 328 to the Constitution of Alabama, proclaimed December 27, 1973. Rule 3 governs the complaint, its filing and contents and the right to notice and responsive pleadings; Rules 4 and 5 service and the time to plead. Rule 6 says when a court member may not participate and Rule 7 that dilatory actions are disfavored. Rules 8 through 11 cover the date and place of hearing, the nature of hearings, the rules of procedure and evidence that govern, and how the court proceeds where no pleading is filed and no appearance made. Rule 12 provides for appointed counsel, Rule 13 for designation as an interested party, Rule 16 the court's decisions and orders, Rule 21 the transcript and Rule 26 the selection and appointment of alternate judges. Rule 23 entitles every interested party of record to a copy of these rules.
Updated 2026 Edition
BrowseAlabama Rules for Expedited Civil Actions
The Alabama Rules for Expedited Civil Actions create a voluntary expedited track for circuit court civil actions in which damages are limited and the parties agree to the assignment, covering eligibility and election, limits on discovery and expert testimony, the trial setting, and the relationship to the Alabama Rules of Civil Procedure.
Updated 2026 Edition
BrowseAlabama Rules Governing the Client Security Fund of the Alabama State Bar
How a client whose lawyer took their money gets reimbursed, 17 rules. Rule 1 makes them govern proceedings on applications for reimbursement from the Client Security Fund of the Alabama State Bar. Rule 3 covers the application, Rules 4 through 7 the committee — its members, meetings, duties and responsibilities, and how it processes applications. Rule 8 is the annual fee assessed on every member of the bar, and Rule 17 the effect of a lawyer's failure to pay it. Rule 9 limits payment, Rule 10 provides for subrogation, Rule 11 confidentiality, Rule 12 attorney fees, Rule 13 conflicts of interest and Rule 14 immunity.
Updated 2026 Edition
BrowseAlabama Civil Court Mediation Rules
The Alabama Civil Court Mediation Rules govern court-referred mediation in civil actions, covering when mediation may be ordered or requested, the selection and qualifications of the mediator, the conduct and confidentiality of the mediation, and the effect of any agreement reached.
Updated 2026 Edition
BrowseAlabama Standards for Imposing Lawyer Discipline
What sanction fits what misconduct. The Preface records that these standards are based in large measure upon similar standards adopted by the American Bar Association in February 1986. Section I is the theoretical framework and Section II the standards themselves, opening with the purpose and nature of discipline. The standards are then organized by the duty violated: Standard 4.0 duties owed to clients, 5.0 duties owed to the public, 6.0 duties owed to the legal system and 7.0 duties owed to the profession, with Standard 3.0 stating the general factors, Standard 8.0 prior discipline orders and Standard 9.0 aggravation and mitigation. Section III reproduces the ABA Standards for Imposing Lawyer Sanctions black-letter rules, and an appendix gives a cross-reference table. Stored under the source's own section and standard labels, which is how Alabama cites them.
Updated 2026 Edition
BrowseAlabama Rules of Procedure of the Judicial Inquiry Commission
How a complaint against an Alabama judge is investigated, 20 rules. Rule 1 defines the terms, including "Judge" as any judge or justice of the judicial system of this state. Rule 4 establishes the privilege and Rule 5 the confidentiality of proceedings; Rule 6 governs investigations and Rule 7 subpoenas and other process, with Rule 8 on contempt. Proceedings are styled "BEFORE THE JUDICIAL INQUIRY COMMISSION OF ALABAMA — Inquiry Concerning a Judge, No. ___" (Rule 3). Rule 10 provides for alternative dispute resolution, Rule 14 addresses a judge who acts as such while disqualified, Rule 15 the prosecution of charges before the Court of the Judiciary, Rule 16 the deferral of impairment cases, Rule 17 informal communications with the judge and Rule 18 advisory opinions.
Updated 2026 Edition
BrowseAlabama Rules for Mandatory Continuing Legal Education
Nine rules on the CLE every Alabama lawyer owes. Rule 1 establishes the Mandatory Continuing Legal Education Commission of the Alabama State Bar, of nine members. Rule 2 sets the scope — the rules apply to every person whose qualification to practice law is subject to the occupational-license, public-office and inactive-practice provisions of the Code of Alabama 1975 — and provides for waivers on a finding of undue hardship or extenuating circumstances beyond the attorney's control. Rule 3 states the requirement itself, Rules 4 and 5 the qualification of course sponsors and the minimum standards for approval, Rule 6 the application of credits, Rule 7 annual reporting, Rule 8 noncompliance, sanctions and late fees, and Rule 9 the professionalism requirement.
Updated 2026 Edition
BrowseAlabama Canons of Judicial Ethics
What an Alabama judge may and may not do, in seven canons. Each canon's title IS its rule: a judge should uphold the integrity and independence of the judiciary (1), should avoid impropriety and the appearance of impropriety in all activities (2), should perform the duties of the office impartially and diligently (3), may engage in activities to improve the law, the legal system and the administration of justice (4), should regulate extra-judicial activities to minimize the risk of conflict with judicial duties (5), should regularly file reports of financial interests (6), and shall refrain from political activity inappropriate to judicial office (7). The Preamble records that the first Code of Legal Ethics in the United States was formulated and adopted by the Alabama State Bar Association in 1887 and adopted with only minor changes by Georgia, Virginia and other states. A closing section covers compliance with the canons and their effective date. Canon 3 on impartial and diligent performance is the longest and the one most often applied in disqualification practice.
Updated 2026 Edition
BrowseAlabama Standards Relating to Delay Reduction
The time standards by which Alabama measures whether its courts are current — four documents, filed under their own titles because the source gives them no numbers. The civil standard is concrete: 90% of all circuit civil cases should be settled, tried or otherwise concluded within 18 months of the date of filing, 95% within 24 months. Also here are the recommendations of the Circuit Judges Time Standards Committee and the district court committee, the Attorney Calendar Conflict Resolution Order governing which court takes precedence when a lawyer is set in two at once, and the order of the Supreme Court adopting appellate court time standards.
Updated 2026 Edition
BrowseAlabama Rules Governing Legal Specialization
Nine rules on who may hold themselves out as a specialist. Rule 1 establishes the Alabama State Bar Board of Legal Specialization, whose purpose is to regulate the certification of lawyers as specialists by certifying agencies so as to enhance public access to appropriate legal services. Rule 2 covers the board's membership, chairperson, terms and meetings, Rule 3 its powers and duties and Rule 4 the administrator. Rule 5 sets the standards for approving a certifying agency, Rule 6 the minimum standards for certifying a specialist, Rule 7 the privileges conferred and limitations imposed by certification, Rule 8 the minimum standards for continued recognition and Rule 9 fees.
Updated 2026 Edition
BrowseAlabama Rules for Using Videotape Equipment to Record Court Proceedings
Six rules for the courtrooms where the record is a videotape rather than a transcript, abbreviated by the court itself as "Ala.R.U.V.E." Rule 1 applies them in any trial or other proceeding presided over by a district or circuit judge in which videotape equipment is used under the judge's direction to record the proceeding, and in any appeal arising from it — but the equipment is installed only where the judge using the courtroom expressly consents, and the judge must consent to its use. Rule 2 states the effect of these rules on other rules of court, Rule 3 makes the videotape the official record of the proceedings, Rule 4 governs the record on appeal and Rule 5 briefs.
Updated 2026 Edition
BrowseAlabama Rules of Procedure for Appeals from the Court of the Judiciary
The route from the Court of the Judiciary to the Supreme Court of Alabama, five rules lettered A through E rather than numbered. Rule A gives a judge aggrieved by a decision of the Court of the Judiciary 30 days from the entry of judgment to file a notice of appeal with the Secretary of that court. Rule B covers security for the costs of appeal, Rule C the filing of the record with the Supreme Court, Rule D the rules that govern the appeal itself, and Rule E the construction and application of these rules.
Updated 2026 Edition
BrowseAlabama Rules Governing Privilege in Collaborative Law Matters
Four rules that supply the one thing the statute left out. The Alabama Legislature adopted the Alabama Uniform Collaborative Law Act, § 6-6-26 et seq., Ala. Code 1975, effective January 1, 2014, but the Act does not address privilege; these rules adopt, with some changes, Sections 17, 18 and 19 of the Uniform Collaborative Law Act on privilege in collaborative matters — disputes, claims and issues arising under the family or domestic-relations law of this state. Rule 1 defines the terms, Rule 2 creates the privilege against disclosure for a collaborative law communication and governs admissibility, Rule 3 covers waiver and preclusion of the privilege and Rule 4 its limits.
Updated 2026 Edition
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