Alabama Answer Deadline
If you disagree with the Plaintiff’s claims, you must answer the complaint by the deadline. Your answer deadline in Alabama depends on what type of court you are in. The letters at the front of your case number will help you determine whether you are in small claims court, district court, or circuit court. The answer deadline is 14 days for District or Small Claims Court cases, or 30 days for Circuit Court cases.
Alabama Circuit Court Answer Deadline Calculator
According to Rule 12 of the Alabama Rules of Civil Procedure:
(a) When presented. A defendant shall serve an answer within thirty (30)
days after the service of the summons and complaint upon that defendant except
when service is made by publication and a different time is prescribed under the
applicable procedure. A party served with a pleading stating a cross-claim
against that party shall serve an answer thereto within thirty (30) days after the
service upon that party. The plaintiff shall serve a reply to a counterclaim in the
answer within thirty (30) days after service of the answer or, if a reply is ordered
by the court, within thirty (30) days after service of the order, unless the order
otherwise directs. The service of a motion permitted under this rule alters these
periods to time as follows, unless a different time is fixed by order of the court: (1)
if the court denies the motion or postpones its disposition until the trial on the
merits, the responsive pleading shall be served within ten (10) days after notice
of the court’s action; (2) if the court grants a motion for a more definite statement
the responsive pleading shall be served within ten (10) days after the service of
the more definite statement. Proceedings to modify, cite for contempt, or similar
motions in divorce proceedings shall not be considered as original pleadings
within the meaning of this rule.
