how much does a lawyer cost for commercial evictions alabama

by Marie Denesik MD 10 min read

Full Answer

How much does it cost to evict a tenant in Alabama?

As the next step in the eviction process, Alabama landlords must file a complaint in the appropriate court. In Mobile County, this costs $256 in filing fees, though other counties may vary. The summons and complaint must be served on the tenant at least 6 days

What are eviction attorney fees and how do they work?

Eviction attorney fees are the amount that a client will need to pay an attorney to handle their eviction matter. The exact amount will depend on many factors, such as what type of fee structure the attorney uses, how complex the legal issues in a case are, and the experience level or reputation of the attorney being hired.

How do I evict a tenant in Alabama for noncompliance?

Generate an official Alabama eviction notice for noncompliance with lease. In the state of Alabama, if tenants intentionally include false or misleading information on a rental agreement or a rental application, the landlord has the right to evict the tenant.

How does the Alabama eviction process work?

Alabama eviction laws vary from county to county, but they still follow the same general eviction process: 1 Send a clear written notice 2 Fill out the forms 3 Serve the tenant 4 Attend the trial 5 Wait for judgement More ...

How do I evict a commercial tenant in Alabama?

To evict a commercial tenant, landlords must follow proper procedure....Commercial Evictions in AlabamaProvide written notice to the tenant explaining the reason for the eviction;Notice is issued for one of two reasons: seven days for unpaid rent, or 14 days for breach of lease (other than unpaid rent);More items...

How much is an eviction attorney?

An eviction lawyer is a lawyer who specializes in handling eviction matters, such as an eviction action. Depending on the jurisdiction and the complexity of the issues involved in your case, an eviction lawyer can cost you anywhere from $500 to $10,000 or more.

How much does an eviction notice cost in Alabama?

Each county in Alabama determines its own filing fees. These can range from $240 up to $302 or more. In addition, each county charges fees for having the sheriff serve the complaint on the tenant, ranging from $5 to $50.

How do you vacate a commercial tenant?

Stage I - Send a Notice to the Tenant to Vacate: An eviction notice needs to be filed in a court under the appropriate jurisdiction mentioning the reason for eviction and the time and date by which the tenant has to vacate the property and is then sent to the tenant to vacate the rental property.

How much does an eviction court order cost?

It will cost ÂŁ275 if you want the court to give your tenants notice of your application or ÂŁ108 if not - for example, if the case is urgent. If the judge for your case decides that you need to give notice and you have not, you'll need to pay the extra ÂŁ167.

Can a landlord evict you without a court order?

No, your landlord usually cannot evict you without a court order. As long as you haven't abandoned your home, your landlord cannot change the locks, install a deadbolt, take off doors, or do anything to stop you from entering your home.

Can I be evicted during Covid in Alabama?

There is currently no eviction ban for most tenants in Alabama.

How long does the eviction process take in Alabama?

The process of evicting a tenant in Alabama can take about one month to several months depending on whether the eviction is for nonpayment of rent or another type of eviction, whether there's a continuance, and/or whether an appeal is filed.

Can you be evicted in Alabama right now 2022?

In Alabama, landlords cannot evict a tenant or force them to vacate the property without probable cause. As long as the tenant does not violate any rules, they can stay until their rental period ends.

Can I evict a commercial tenant?

Section 146 of the Law of Property Act 1925 provides that a commercial landlord must serve a written eviction notice on a commercial tenant of commercial premises.

Can you evict a commercial tenant for not paying rent?

In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, the rules around evicting commercial tenants for non-payment of rent have changed. To protect businesses forced to close during the pandemic, the government imposed a moratorium on commercial landlords evicting tenants who were unable to pay their rent until March 2022.

Can you evict a commercial tenant without lease?

The easiest way to start the process of evicting a commercial tenant is to file for a Possession Claim from the County Court. The Government has an online Court and Tribunal Finder and you'll need to find the court which is closest to the commercial property itself.

Can a landlord evict you immediately in Alabama?

Can a landlord evict you immediately in Alabama? No, a landlord cannot evict you immediately in Alabama. Even if you (or a roommate) failed to pay...

Can you evict a tenant without a lease in Alabama?

Can you evict a tenant without a lease in Alabama? Yes, a landlord can evict a tenant without a lease in Alabama, but you may still be required to...

How much does it cost to evict someone in Alabama?

How much does it cost to evict someone in Alabama? Each county in Alabama determines its own filing fees. These can range from $240 up to $302 or m...

Can you kick someone out of your house in Alabama?

Can you kick someone out of your house in Alabama? You may be able to kick someone out of your house in Alabama if there’s no landlord/tenant relat...

Can a landlord evict someone for no reason in Alabama?

Can a landlord evict someone for no reason in Alabama? Yes, a landlord can evict someone for no reason in Alabama if their lease has expired. In th...

How much does an eviction lawyer cost?

Depending on the jurisdiction and the complexity of the issues involved in your case, an eviction lawyer can cost you anywhere from $500 to $10,000 or more. However, the exact cost of an eviction will vary based on a number of factors.

What can a lawyer do for an eviction?

Alternatively, if you are a landlord, then your lawyer can make sure that you have complied with the proper procedures and rules for an eviction action in your jurisdiction. Your lawyer can also help defend your interests if the tenant files an appeal and can explain what legal rights you have as a property owner.

What happens when a landlord attempts to perform an eviction?

If the landlord attempted to perform the eviction themselves rather than asking the court and law enforcement to intervene; When the issues in an eviction case are complex and thus require lots of documents to be filed and various court costs to be paid; If the tenant demands a jury trial.

What is an hourly fee?

An hourly fee simply refers to a type of fee structure that attorneys use to bill their clients. When a lawyer informs their client that they will charge an hourly fee, it means that the client will have to pay the lawyer a certain amount of money for each hour that they work on their case.

What factors affect the cost of an eviction?

Some other factors that can impact the amount that an eviction may cost include the following: Whether the tenant raises a defense against the eviction action (e. g., discrimination, retaliation, etc.); If the landlord attempted to perform the eviction themselves rather than asking the court and law enforcement to intervene;

Why does each eviction differ from the next?

This is because every case will have facts that are unique to the parties’ circumstances and every jurisdiction has its own eviction laws. Thus, there are many factors that can cause the cost of an eviction to vary from one eviction action to another.

Why do lawyers charge by the hour?

For instance, some large and midsize law firms may have policies that prohibit the use of a flat fee structure. One possible reason why a law firm would prohibit such a structure is because it is a better business decision.

How long does it take to get evicted in Alabama?

In these instances, the landlord is required to provide the tenant with a 7-Day Notice to Comply , giving the tenant 7 business days to correct the issue.

What is the eviction code in Alabama?

For additional questions about the eviction process in Alabama, please refer to the official state legislation, AL Code §§ 35-9A-421 through 461 and §§ 6-6-310 through 353, for more information.

How long does it take to get a notice to evict a tenant in Alabama?

Alabama landlords are required to provide tenants with a 7-Day Notice to Comply, giving the tenant the opportunity to correct any issues before the landlord can proceed with the eviction process.

How long do you have to give a tenant a notice to quit?

Tenants of a rental unit who are involved in illegal drug activity, criminal assault, or illegal firearm activity must be given a 7-Day Notice to Quit before the landlord can proceed with an eviction action.

How long does it take to pay rent if it is past due?

Once rent is past due, the landlord must provide a 7-Day Notice to Pay if the landlord wants to file an eviction action with the court. This notice gives the tenant the option to pay the past due amount in full within 7 business days in order to avoid eviction.

How long does a writ of execution last in Alabama?

7 days. The writ of execution is automatically stayed (postponed) for seven days, per Alabama law.

What is step 4 in eviction in Alabama?

Step 4: Court Hearing and Judgment. Alabama laws don’t specify when a hearing must be held on an eviction case; however, they may take priority over other types of civil cases. In some locations, the hearing will not be scheduled until after a tenant has filed their answer with the court.

How to evict a tenant in Alabama?

How to Evict Commercial Tenants in Alabama. If you rent a commercial space to a tenant that has defaulted on rent payments or who broke the terms of the lease, you may wish to evict the tenant. It should be said that you should only pursue the eviction route if you have exhausted all other options, such as discussing the default or breach with ...

What to do if tenant is unable to pay rent?

If a tenant is unable to pay rent after a particularly slow period, you may want to offer a repayment plan or other means of assistance. However, if the tenant is unwilling to work with you, or if his or her business is doing so poorly that there is no hope of recovery, eviction may be necessary.

Is eviction a good business decision?

Depending on your answers to these questions, eviction may or may not be the best business decision. If you decide it IS a sound business decision, the sooner you start the eviction process, the better, as each day you are unable to re-rent the space is another day in which you lose money.

Can a commercial tenant file for bankruptcy?

It is not unthinkable that if your commercial tenant is having money issues that he or she may file or already have filed bankruptcy. If this is the case, your options may be limited. Once a person or business entity files for bankruptcy, the bankruptcy courts place an automatic stay on collections actions. Unfortunately, evictions fall within the “collections” category. If your tenant has already filed for bankruptcy, you may be prohibited from serving him or her an eviction notice or from beginning the eviction proceedings.

How Much Does a Lawyer Cost?

If you're facing a legal issue, hiring a lawyer can be invaluable. Having an experienced attorney on your team can significantly impact the outcome of your case. The reality, however, is that hiring a lawyer can be expensive.

Typical Lawyer Cost Structures

There are four main lawyer cost structures that you may encounter when hiring an attorney. It is important to fully understand these fee arrangements to know precisely what you are expected to pay.

Factors that Impact Lawyer Costs

Several factors impact how much a lawyer will cost. The three most important factors are the type of legal work, the attorney's experience level, and the amount of work that the case will require.

What are Typical Attorney Fees

Throughout the United States, typical attorney fees usually range from about $100 an hour to $400 an hour. These hourly rates will increase with experience and practice area specialization.

How Much Does It Cost to Talk to A Lawyer?

The cost of talking to a lawyer varies and depends on how the individual lawyer chooses to bill their clients. Before hiring an attorney to take on your case, you will have a consultation.

Is Hiring a Lawyer Expensive?

Hiring a lawyer can be expensive. Lawyer costs will depend on the type and complexity of the legal issue at hand. When deciding whether to hire an attorney for your legal matter, you must weigh the importance of having an experienced attorney with the potential cost of that attorney.

Get Help with Hiring an Attorney

Do you need help with hiring an attorney for a project? If so, post a project in ContractsCounsel's marketplace to receive flat fee bids from experienced lawyers to handle your project. Our team vets all lawyers on the ContractsCounsel's platform to ensure you are provided with top-tier service.

How much does an eviction lawyer cost?

The answer significantly depends on how much a lawyer charges you for the case. According to LegalMatch, the eviction lawyer cost can range from $500 to $20,000, depending on the complexity of the case, its claims, and court proceedings, as well as the state where you currently reside. There are cases when you can recover attorney fees, ...

What happens if you take an eviction to the court?

If you decide to take the eviction to the court, you will have to pay for filing a complaint in the court, the paperwork you will serve to the defendants, and the fees that a jury demands.

What defenses do tenants use against eviction?

Tenants Use Legal Defenses. If tenants acknowledge their eviction, the whole process can quickly be done and may not be too expensive. However, there are instances when tenants have defenses or reasons against the eviction such as poor housing conditions, cases of discrimination, or retaliation circumstances.

How much does a lawyer charge per hour?

If your lawyer charges on an hourly basis, expect to pay around $100 to $400 per hour for their professional services. But the rates will always vary based on your current location, your claim’s complexities, and your lawyer’s experiences in handling the lawsuit.

Do eviction lawyers know about eviction?

Although eviction lawyers know the legal proceedings of evicting someone from a property, there are times when landlords and/or their legal counsel hire experts who can provide in-depth explanations on disputed issues related to the case. As such, the services of these experts mean an increase to the overall expenses.

Is eviction the same as eviction?

Apparently, eviction cases are not all the same. They usually differ in their claims. Some tenants will voluntarily leave the place, while others resort to unlawful ways. But there are those who hire the services of a lawyer and face the landlord along with the eviction case in the court. In simplest terms, these circumstances can definitely affect the overall cost of legally evicting a tenant from your property.

When do lawyers need more time?

Basically, when there are too many circumstances that need to be addressed, lawyers need more time to resolve the situation . The longer it takes to settle the case, the higher the price you will incur.

Eviction Reasons

A tenant’s rent is late in Alabama if they have been unable to pay it for one day after the deadline. A grace period may be available if stated in the lease/rental agreement.

Filing a Complaint

The eviction process can only begin after the issuance of the appropriate written notice. Enough notice time must have been allowed before filing for eviction.

Serving the Tenant

An official from the court delivers the Summons for the hearing and the Complaint to the tenant. The landlord or their lawyer is not allowed to deliver the Summons.

Asking for Possession

The landlord has to provide a strong argument backed up by solid evidence against the tenant. Should the tenant fail to show up to the hearing, the landlord wins by default.

Getting Possession

Provided that the tenant does not appeal for reconsideration, a Writ of Execution is issued immediately.

Alabama Eviction Timeline

Below is the average timeline for a complete eviction process. This timeline does not include special cases such as requests for an appeal or continuance.

Showing Evidence

If the tenant disagrees with the eviction request and they reply to the court, it’s important that you keep extremely good records of everything so you can provide proof to the judge and win your case. This part can make or break your entire eviction request in the event of a dispute.