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Foreclosure and tax sales in Alabama

What our research shows about Alabama's rules. General information with sources — not legal advice, and not a reading of your papers.

BasicThe essentials, each with its source. General deadlines only.Research last reviewed 2026-09-22
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How foreclosure works

Usual process
Nonjudicial (out of court)
From a reputable summary[1][2]
Allowed processes
Judicial (through court) · Nonjudicial (out of court)
From a reputable summary[1]
Main statutes
Ala. Code § 35-10-13; Ala. Code § 6-5-248; Ala. Code § 6-5-251
From a reputable summary[1]
Typical length (estimate)
Not researched yet for this state.

The usual timeline

  1. +At least 120 days

    Federal rule: the servicer generally cannot make the first foreclosure notice or filing until you are more than 120 days behind

    Applies to most home loans in every state. A complete loss-mitigation application sent more than 37 days before a sale also triggers federal protections.

    Checked against the official text12 CFR § 1024.41(f)(1)

  2. Notice of default or breach letter

    Alabama law does not require a state-law notice of default to the borrower. Most mortgages (e.g., the Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac form) require a breach letter first — check your mortgage.

    From a reputable summary

  3. Mediation may be available (voluntary or local programs)

    Alabama foreclosure mediation program (Alabama Center for Dispute Resolution). A statewide program with trained mediators may be available; participation is not required by statute.

    From a reputable summary

  4. Notice of sale (published / mailed)

    Notice is published in a newspaper once a week for three consecutive weeks before the sale. For loans made on or after January 1, 2016, a notice of the right to redeem usually comes at least 30 days before the sale.

    From a reputable summary

  5. Foreclosure sale

    From a reputable summary
  6. +At least 180 days

    Redemption window (at least 180 days in the shortest common case)

    Generally one year after the sale. It is 180 days if the loan was made on or after Jan. 1, 2016, a homestead exemption was claimed that tax year, and the lender gave the redemption notice at least 30 days before the sale. Never more than one year. You must give up possession within 10 days of a written demand or lose the right.

    From a reputable summary

A general sequence built from the rules above. "At least" periods are the shortest we found; your case can take longer.

Notices and the sale

Notice before foreclosure
Alabama law does not require a state-law notice of default to the borrower. Most mortgages (e.g., the Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac form) require a breach letter first — check your mortgage.
From a reputable summary[1]
Notice of sale
Notice is published in a newspaper once a week for three consecutive weeks before the sale. For loans made on or after January 1, 2016, a notice of the right to redeem usually comes at least 30 days before the sale.

Ala. Code § 35-10-13

From a reputable summary[1]
Publication
Newspaper, once a week for three consecutive weeks. No mailed notice is required by statute.
From a reputable summary[1]
When sales happen
Not researched yet for this state.

Your rights before and after the sale

Catching up (reinstatement)
No statutory right to reinstate; many mortgage contracts allow it.
From a reputable summary[1][2]
Buying the home back (redemption)
YesGenerally one year after the sale. It is 180 days if the loan was made on or after Jan. 1, 2016, a homestead exemption was claimed that tax year, and the lender gave the redemption notice at least 30 days before the sale. Never more than one year. You must give up possession within 10 days of a written demand or lose the right.

Ala. Code § 6-5-248(b), (h); § 6-5-251

From a reputable summary[1]
Owing money after the sale (deficiency)
YesAllowed by separate lawsuit after a nonjudicial sale; the lender must bid in good faith (a shockingly low credit bid can be challenged).
From a reputable summary[1][2]
Mediation
Voluntary programAlabama foreclosure mediation program (Alabama Center for Dispute Resolution).A statewide program with trained mediators may be available; participation is not required by statute.
From a reputable summary[1]

Property tax sales

Tax sale system
Tax lien certificate sale
From a reputable summary[3]
How it works
Taxes are due Oct. 1 and delinquent Jan. 1. The tax collector must get a probate-court decree before selling the tax lien; the buyer receives a certificate of purchase once the court confirms the sale, and can seek a tax deed after three years.
From a reputable summary[3]
Redeeming after a tax sale
Three years from the sale when a private party buys the lien; if the state buys it, any time before title leaves the state. An occupant may be able to redeem later with court approval.

Ala. Code §§ 40-10-120, 40-10-82

From a reputable summary[3]
Relief programs
Not researched yet for this state.
Payment plans
Not researched yet for this state.
Surplus after a tax sale
Not researched yet for this state.

Bankruptcy exemptions

Federal exemption list
State list only (opted out)

This state has opted out: in bankruptcy you use the state exemption list (plus federal non-bankruptcy exemptions), not the federal § 522(d) list.

From a reputable summary[4]
Homestead exemption
$18,800 ($37,600 married)Up to $18,800 per owner (each joint owner claims separately), up to 160 acres; higher for owners 62+ or disabled.(Ala. Code §§ 6-10-2, 6-10-12)
From a reputable summary[5]

Where to get free help

Free legal aid (LSC-funded)
Checked against the official text[7]
Legal help website

The official site blocked our automated check on 2026-09-22; confirm the page before relying on it.

Not confirmed — check it[8]
State housing agency
Checked against the official text[6]
Attorney general / consumer protection
Checked against the official text[9]
Court self-help
Checked against the official text[10]
HUD-approved housing counselors
HUD-approved housing counseling agencies — Free or low-cost, HUD-approved housing counselors in every state. Call or search by ZIP code.

Sources

Retrieved 2026-09-22. Official texts are marked “official”; summaries are marked “summary”.

  1. [1]Nolo — Alabama Foreclosure Process, Laws, and Homeowner Rightssummary
  2. [2]Nolo — State Foreclosure Laws: 50-state chart (process, deficiency, redemption, reinstatement)summary
  3. [3]Nolo — Alabama property tax lien salessummary
  4. [4]Nolo — Federal Bankruptcy Exemptions — which states allow the federal list11 U.S.C. § 522(b)(2)summary
  5. [5]Asset Protection Planners — Homestead Exemptions by U.S. State and Territory (2026 chart with statute cites)summary
  6. [6]Home | AHFA (official site, checked live)official
  7. [7]Legal Services Corporation — Our Grantees (official list of LSC-funded programs by state)official
  8. [8]Alabama Legal Helpofficial
  9. [9]Consumer Interest Division - Alabama Attorney General's Office (official site, checked live)official
  10. [10]Alabama Judicial System (official site, checked live)official