Code of Alabama

Ala. Code § 12-19-71 (2026)

Circuit and District Court Filing Fee - Amount.

✓ official Alabama Legislature (ALISON) text, current July 2026

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(a) The filing fees that shall be collected in civil cases shall be:

(1) Thirty-five dollars ($35) for cases filed on the small claims docket of the district court in which the matter in controversy, exclusive of interest, costs, and attorney fees, totals one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500) or less; provided, however, if attorney fees have been allowed by applicable state law or contract, the amount of these fees shall be added to the amount of the matter in controversy above in determining the jurisdictional amount.

(2) One hundred nine dollars ($109) for cases filed on the small claims docket of the district court in which the matter in controversy, exclusive of interest, costs, and attorney fees, exceeds one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500) but does not exceed three thousand dollars ($3,000); provided, however, if attorney fees have been allowed by applicable state law or contract, the amount of these fees shall be added to the amount of the matter in controversy above in determining the jurisdictional amount.

(3) One hundred ninety-eight dollars ($198) for cases otherwise filed in the district court, including cases on the small claims docket, in which the matter in controversy, exclusive of interest, costs, and attorney fees, exceeds three thousand dollars ($3,000) but does not exceed twenty thousand dollars ($20,000); provided, however, if attorney fees have been allowed by applicable state law or contract, the amount of these fees shall be added to the amount of the matter in controversy above in determining the jurisdictional amount.

(4) Two hundred ninety-seven dollars ($297) for cases filed in the circuit court other than cases filed on the domestic relations docket of the circuit court. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the docket fee shall be one hundred ninety-seven dollars ($197) for civil cases in circuit court in which the matter of controversy, exclusive of interest, costs, and attorney fees, does not exceed fifty thousand dollars ($50,000); provided, however, if attorney fees have been allowed by applicable state law or contract, the amount of these fees shall be added to the amount of the matter in controversy above in determining the jurisdictional amount. However, if any plaintiff files an addendum to increase the damages requested to an amount that exceeds fifty thousand dollars ($50,000), or if the plaintiff fails to specify the amount in the filing, then the fee shall be two hundred ninety-seven dollars ($297) and distributed as provided for in subdivision (4) of Section 12-19-72.

(5) One hundred forty-five dollars ($145) for cases filed on the domestic relations docket of the circuit court in which the circuit clerk determines that the cases are uncontested at the time of filing. A case is considered uncontested if a complaint, an answer, and an agreement of the parties is filed in the circuit court.

(6) One hundred forty-five dollars ($145) for cases filed on the domestic relations docket of the circuit court in which the circuit clerk determines that the cases are contested at the time of filing.

(7)a. Except as provided in paragraph b., two hundred forty-eight dollars ($248) for cases filed in the domestic relations docket of the circuit court seeking to modify or enforce an existing domestic relations court order.

b. No filing fee may be collected for a motion for a qualified domestic relations order which is filed within 120 days of the date of the final order. For the purposes of this paragraph, the term “qualified domestic relations order” has the same meaning as 26 U.S.C. § 414(p).

(8) Two hundred ninety-seven dollars ($297) for a counterclaim, a cross claim, a third party complaint, a third party motion, or an action for a declaratory judgment filed in a civil action of the circuit court other than cases filed on the domestic relations docket of the circuit court.

(9) Two hundred ninety-seven dollars ($297) on a motion or complaint to appear as an intervenor or a third party plaintiff in a civil action of the circuit court other than cases filed on the domestic relations docket of the circuit court.

(10)a. Except as provided in paragraph b., fifty dollars ($50) on a dispositive motion filed by any party in a civil action of the district or circuit court seeking any of the following:

1. A judgment on the pleadings pursuant to Rule 12(c), Alabama Rules of Civil Procedure.

2. A default judgment pursuant to Rule 55(b), Alabama Rules of Civil Procedure.

3. A summary judgment pursuant to Rule 56, Alabama Rules of Civil Procedure.

b. The filing fee in paragraph a. may not be collected in small claims cases where the amount in controversy does not exceed three thousand dollars ($3,000).

(11) In addition to the filing fees provided in subdivisions (1), (2), and (3), an additional fifty dollars ($50) shall be charged for each additional plaintiff in those cases filed; provided, however, that regardless of the number of additional plaintiffs, not more than five hundred dollars ($500) in total additional plaintiff filing fees may be charged in any one case filed. The court may remit any of the additional fifty dollar ($50) charges if any of the additional plaintiffs provide proof to the court that the fees should not be charged. Nothing in this subdivision shall be interpreted as establishing a maximum number of plaintiffs.

(12) In addition to the filing fees provided in subdivision (4), an additional one hundred dollars ($100) shall be charged for each additional plaintiff in those cases filed; provided, however, that regardless of the number of additional plaintiffs, not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) in total additional plaintiff filing fees may be charged in any one case filed. The court may remit any of the additional one hundred dollar ($100) charges if any of the additional plaintiffs provide proof to the court that the fees should not be charged. Nothing in this subdivision shall be interpreted as establishing a maximum number of plaintiffs.

(13) An additional one hundred dollars ($100) to be paid at the time the jury is demanded by any party demanding a jury.

(b) The fees provided in subdivisions (8) and (9) shall not be charged to a plaintiff suing for loss of consortium who is a spouse of a plaintiff listed in a case.

(c)(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of Act 2004-636 to the contrary, there shall be no increase in the filing fee for any workers’ compensation case filed in circuit court.

(2) Notwithstanding any other provision of Act 2004-636 to the contrary, Act 2004-636 shall not affect any local court filing fees established by local act unless specifically provided for in Act 2004-636.

(d) Nothing in Act 2004-636 shall limit a judge’s authority to allow a civil case to proceed at no cost to a party upon the judge’s approval of an affidavit of substantial hardship.

(Acts 1975, No. 1205, p. 2384, §16-111; Acts 1983, No. 83-744, p. 1225, §1; Acts 1987, No. 87-405, p. 575, §1; Acts 1992, No. 92-227, p. 562, §1; Act 99-427, p. 759, §1; Act 2004-636, p. 1452, §§1, 3, 5; Act 2015-224, p. 658, §1; Act 2019-405, §1; Act 2024-449, §1.)

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 54 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1978–2026 · leading case: Espinoza v. Rudolph.

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Espinoza v. Rudolph (Ala. 2010). · cites it 4× “We note that, when the requirements of § 12-19-71 have not been satisfied, the trial court may stay the time for answering the counterclaim or conducting discovery or litigating the counterclaim until the fee is paid or may make such other orders as are reasonable and necessary…”

Hudson v. Hudson (Ala. Civ. App. 2014). · cites it 6× “Alabama Code 1975, § 12-19-71 (a)(7), provides that “[t]he filing fees which shall be collected in civil cases shall be-.”

Hicks v. Hicks (Ala. Civ. App. 2012). · cites it 4× “The court noted that § 12-19-71, Ala.Code 1975, which set forth the amount of filing fees to be paid on a counterclaim, did not require that those fees be paid at the time the counterclaim was filed.”

Chamblee v. Duncan (Ala. Civ. App. 2015). · cites it 8× “, provides that “[a]ny filing for which there is no express cost under the consolidated fee structure [set out in § 12-19-71, Ala.Code 1975,] shall be treated as an original filing for cost purposes unless the payment of a docket fee is specifically waived by law.”

Landry v. Landry (Ala. Civ. App. 2014). · cites it 8× “Nevertheless, in dicta, the court stated: “We note that, when the requirements of § 12-19-71[, Ala.Code 1975,] have not been satisfied, the trial court may stay the time for answering the counterclaim or conducting discovery or litigating the counterclaim until the fee is paid…”

James Odom v. Renee Odom. (Ala. Civ. App. 2011). · cites it 3× “Similarly, the trial court in this case acted outside its discretion in exercising jurisdiction to rule upon the “motion” filed by the former husband, which plainly seeks to modify the support provisions of an existing domestic-relations court order within the meaning of…”

Opinion of the Clerk, Supreme Court (Ala. 1978). · cites it 4× “Rule 7, supra, is as follows: FEES FOR MISCELLANEOUS FILINGS Any filing for which there is no express cost under the consolidated fee structure shall be treated as an original filing for cost purposes.”

Neal v. State (Ala. Crim. App. 2001). · cites it 2× “Neal has also argued that the circuit court improperly ordered the Department of Corrections to withhold 25% of the deposits to his prison account until the court costs were paid in this case, and that the costs of $187 assessed by the circuit court was an error because §…”

Eugene Milton Clemons, II v. Comm'r, Alabama Dep't of Corr. (11th Cir. 2020). “53), Ala. Code § 12-19-71 (1999); see also Ex parte Hurth, 764 So.”

Opinion of the Clerk, Supreme Court of Alabama (Ala. 1988). · cites it 3× “” Code 1975, § 12-19-71, provides: “The docket fees which shall be collected in civil cases shall be: “(1) Twenty-five dollars for cases filed on the small claims docket of the district court; “(2) Fifty-nine dollars for cases otherwise filed in the district court; “(3)…”

Opinion of the Clerk (Ala. 1978). · cites it 4× “” It is my opinion that Rule 7, Alabama Rules of Judicial Administration, considered with §§ 12-19-71, 12-12-70 and 12-12-71, Code of Alabama 1975, authorizes a circuit clerk to collect a docket fee on an appeal of a civil case from the district court to the circuit court.”

Conners v. State (Ala. Crim. App. 2001). · cites it 3× “Although § 12-19-71, Ala.Code 1975, provides a filing fee in civil cases of $145 for all cases filed after October 1, 2000, this Court has recognized that there are separate county costs that may increase that filing fee beyond the statutory maximum of $145.”

Show all 54 citing cases →

— Ala. Code § 12-19-71(1) — 1 case

Opinion of the Clerk (Ala. 1978).

— Ala. Code § 12-19-71(3) — 9 cases

Smith v. State (Ala. Crim. App. 2005).

Madden v. State (Ala. Crim. App. 2004).

Opinion of the Clerk (Ala. 1978). “” It is my opinion that Rule 7, Alabama Rules of Judicial Administration, considered with §§ 12-19-71, 12-12-70 and 12-12-71, Code of Alabama 1975, authorizes a circuit clerk to collect a docket fee on an appeal of a civil case from the district court to the circuit court.”

Baker v. State (Ala. Crim. App. 2003).

Cummings v. State (Ala. Crim. App. 1996).

— Ala. Code § 12-19-71(7) — 1 case

Hathaway v. Foos (Ala. Civ. App. 2017).

— Ala. Code § 12-19-71(8) — 1 case

Chamblee v. Duncan (Ala. Civ. App. 2015). “, provides that “[a]ny filing for which there is no express cost under the consolidated fee structure [set out in § 12-19-71, Ala.Code 1975,] shall be treated as an original filing for cost purposes unless the payment of a docket fee is specifically waived by law.”

— Ala. Code § 12-19-71(a) — 5 cases

Hudson v. Hudson (Ala. Civ. App. 2014). “Alabama Code 1975, § 12-19-71 (a)(7), provides that “[t]he filing fees which shall be collected in civil cases shall be-.”

Landry v. Landry (Ala. Civ. App. 2014). “Nevertheless, in dicta, the court stated: “We note that, when the requirements of § 12-19-71[, Ala.Code 1975,] have not been satisfied, the trial court may stay the time for answering the counterclaim or conducting discovery or litigating the counterclaim until the fee is paid…”

Montgomery v. Montgomery (Ala. Civ. App. 2009).

Hathaway v. Foos (Ala. Civ. App. 2017).

Opinion of the Clerk (Ala. 2009).

— Ala. Code § 12-19-71(a)(13) — 1 case

Wilson v. Se. Alabama Med. Ctr. (Ala. Civ. App. 2015).

— Ala. Code § 12-19-71(a)(3) — 1 case

State v. Dozier (Ala. 2002).

— Ala. Code § 12-19-71(a)(4) — 1 case

Cook v. Bentley (Ala. 2016).

— Ala. Code § 12-19-71(a)(7) — 10 cases

James Odom v. Renee Odom. (Ala. Civ. App. 2011). “Similarly, the trial court in this case acted outside its discretion in exercising jurisdiction to rule upon the “motion” filed by the former husband, which plainly seeks to modify the support provisions of an existing domestic-relations court order within the meaning of…”

Hicks v. Hicks (Ala. Civ. App. 2012). “The court noted that § 12-19-71, Ala.Code 1975, which set forth the amount of filing fees to be paid on a counterclaim, did not require that those fees be paid at the time the counterclaim was filed.”

Burgett v. Porter (Ala. Civ. App. 2015).

Hicks v. Hicks (Ala. 2013).

— Ala. Code § 12-19-71(a)(8) — 4 cases

Espinoza v. Rudolph (Ala. 2010). “We note that, when the requirements of § 12-19-71 have not been satisfied, the trial court may stay the time for answering the counterclaim or conducting discovery or litigating the counterclaim until the fee is paid or may make such other orders as are reasonable and necessary…”

Davis v. Blackstock (Ala. Civ. App. 2014).

— Ala. Code § 12-19-71(b) — 2 cases

State v. Dozier (Ala. 2002).

State v. Amerson (Ala. Crim. App. 2002).

— Ala. Code § 12-19-71(c) — 1 case

Opinion of the Clerk (Ala. 1981).

Annotations are extracted automatically from the opinions in the Syfert caselaw corpus and ranked by authority, recency, and treatment. Dots show Syfertize treatment of the citing case itself.