(a) Upon complaint being made, the district judge shall issue a notice to the party against whom the complaint is made to the following effect:

The State of Alabama,

________ County.

To ________

You are hereby commanded to be and appear before me, at _____ on the _____ day of _____, 2__, to answer to, and make defense against a complaint exhibited to me against you by _____, for a forcible entry and detainer (or for unlawful detainer, as the case may be).

Witness my hand this _____ day of ______, 2__.

_______________________________ District Court Judge

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Terms Used In Alabama Code 6-6-332

  • Affidavit: A written statement of facts confirmed by the oath of the party making it, before a notary or officer having authority to administer oaths.
  • Answer: The formal written statement by a defendant responding to a civil complaint and setting forth the grounds for defense.
  • Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
  • Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
  • following: means next after. See Alabama Code 1-1-1
  • person: includes a corporation as well as a natural person. See Alabama Code 1-1-1
  • Plaintiff: The person who files the complaint in a civil lawsuit.
  • state: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories of the United States. See Alabama Code 1-1-1
(b) The notice shall be served on the defendant at least six days before the return day of the process and may be served on the defendant anywhere within the state. The return of the service thereof by any sheriff or constable of the state is sufficient, or proof of the fact may be made before the judge. A copy of the notice shall be personally served upon the defendant. If the sheriff or constable is unable to serve the defendant personally, service may be had by delivering the notice to any person who is sui juris residing on the premises, or if after reasonable effort no person is found residing on the premises, by posting a copy of the notice on the door of the premises, and on the same day of posting or by the close of the next business day, the sheriff, the constable, the person filing the complaint, or anyone on behalf of the person, shall mail notice of the filing of the unlawful detainer action by enclosing, directing, stamping, and mailing by first class a copy of the notice to the defendant at the mailing address of the premises and if there is no mailing address for the premises to the last known address, if any, of the defendant and making an entry of this action on the affidavit filed in the case. Service of the notice by posting shall be complete as of the date of mailing the notice.
(c) Upon complaint being made and upon request of the plaintiff to have the notice served on the defendant by a process server other than a sheriff or constable, the court shall, if the process server is qualified under Rule 4.1 (b)(2) of the Alabama Rules of Civil Procedure, order the clerk to deliver the notice to the process server for service.
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