Should you file a District Civil Case?
Before you file a claim, you should contact the person or business you plan to sue and attempt to settle your dispute. This effort may save you time and money. In some instances, it costs as much, or more, than the actual claim to file and seek collections. You should also find out if the person or business you plan to sue has any money or assets to pay your claims. Otherwise, if you win, you may have a difficult time collecting on a court judgment. Remember, it is up to you, not the court, to take further legal action against the person or business if the judgment is not paid.
Back to Top
Who can use District Civil Court?
An individual who has reached the age of 19, a partnership, or a corporation may file a claim. An individual may file a claim with or without an attorney. If a partnership files without an attorney, the person representing the partnership must be a partner or an employee of the partnership. A corporation MUST be represented by an attorney.
Back to Top
How do you file a District Civil Case?
You or your attorney should go to the District Civil Division of the District Court in the county where the person or business you wish to sue lives or has an office, and file a Statement of Claim (Complaint) form. This form is available in the Clerk's Office. By law, the Court Clerk can not give you legal advice nor can they assist you in filling out forms (you, an individual or an attorney of your choice may do this). If you are physically unable to fill them out yourself, this office will gladly make reasonable accommodations in order to help you complete the necessary paperwork.
Once you complete the complaint, you become the "plaintiff" in the case and the person you are suing is the "defendant". The information that you must have in order to complete the case is the defendant's correct and complete address and/or their place of employment. You must pay a filing fee at the time the claim is filed. Filing fees are non-refundable. NO PERSONAL CHECKS. If you cannot afford to prepay this fee, you can fill out an Affidavit of Substantial Hardship form and ask the judge to delay payment and the costs will be taxed at the conclusion of the case. You may obtain this form from the Circuit Clerk's Office or download the form titled Affidavit of Substantial Hardship online. Otherwise, you (the plaintiff) will be responsible for any costs accumulated over the course of the claim.
CERTIFIED MAIL - When requesting service, wherein the address provided is a post office box, or is out of state, the papers may be served by certified mail. You should prepare an envelope, green card, and green and white sticker. Be sure that the Clerk's address is the return address, to-wit: Cullman District Court, Room 211 Courthouse, 500 2nd Ave. SW, Cullman, AL 35055. You must affix the proper postage onto the prepared envelope. It is your responsibility to insure the address is current and correct. You will need to contact the US Post Office to obtain current fees for certified/return receipt mail—Restricted Delivery.
Back to Top
What happens after the claim is filed?
Once the forms are completed, this office will process the complaint and assign your case a number (You should use this number whenever you contact the court concerning your case). It normally takes 1 to 2 weeks to process the case. After it is processed in our office, it is then sent to the Sheriff's Department for service on the defendant(s) or issued by Certified mail whichever process you stated. Once served with a Statement of Claim, the defendant has 14 days to answer and to file it with the Clerk's Office. We will notify you (or your attorney if you have legal representation) of the service date by mail with a computer print-out. Please do not call for service date (We do not check service by phone.) If the defendant files an answer, the case will be set for trial in 6 - 8 weeks from the receipt of the answer. You should have sufficient time or notification of the trial in order to subpoena any witnesses and otherwise prepare your case for trial. If you have a conflict with the trial date, you will need to file a motion to Continue in a timely manner with the Clerk's Office.
If the defendant fails to file an answer, the plaintiff can take a judgment by default by filling out a default request and affidavit form. This form is available here - Application, Affidavit and Entry of Default Judgment. Please note that this form must be notarized.
Back to Top
If you are the defendant, what should you do after a claim has been filed?
You may choose to settle with the plaintiff before the date the claim is set for trial. If you do settle, then the claim may be dismissed, with no judgment entered against you. If you choose not to settle or you are unable to settle, you must answer the Complaint within 14 calendar days after being served, admitting or denying all or part of the claim. Remember, your answer must be filed within 14 calendar days or a default judgment may be entered against you. As the defendant, you may also choose to file a Counterclaim - Defendant's Answer (Counterclaim), which is a claim that you have against the plaintiff.
If a settlement agreement is reached before the trial, the plaintiff must immediately notify the clerk so that the trial can be cancelled.
Back to Top
What should both sides do to prepare for the trial?
If an agreement cannot be reached, both the plaintiff and defendant should get together all papers, receipts, bills, sales tickets, estimates, photographs, etc., having to do with the claim. These are to be brought to court the date of the trial.
You should write down the details and facts of the case to assist you in telling your side of the story at the trial. As the plaintiff or defendant, you may bring any witnesses you feel can help explain your case. If there is any reason to believe a witness will not voluntarily appear, you may ask the clerk to issue a Witness Subpoena requiring that person to appear. This form is available for download: Order to Appear (Subpoena) and Subpoena Request Form. You will be required to pay a witness subpoena fee. You will need to make sure you allow at least two weeks for service of your subpoena prior to trial date, especially if your witness is located in another county.
Back to Top
What happens at the trial?
BE ON TIME. If you are late, the judge may dismiss your case (if you are the plaintiff) or he/she may enter a default judgment against you (if you are the defendant). If something comes up which would prevent you from being on time or appearing at the trial, you MUST inform the judge your case is assigned to as soon as possible and request a continuance (delay) of the trial.
A trial in District Civil Court is an informal hearing before a judge. There is no jury. When the case is called, the plaintiff will present his/her evidence and his/her witnesses. The defendant will then present his/her evidence, and call his/her witnesses.
After hearing both sides of the case and looking at the evidence, the judge will make a decision and render a judgment based on the law and the facts presented. A copy of the judgment will be mailed to each party or their attorney.
Back to Top
What can you do if you disagree with the court's judgment?
If either of you (plaintiff or defendant) disagrees with the decision, you may appeal the case by filing a NOTICE OF APPEAL form with the clerk of District Civil Court within 14 calendar days after the date of judgment. This form is available here: Notice of Appeal. The Clerk's Office also has this form.
The appeal will be heard in the Circuit Court. The party filing the appeal must be prepared to pay a filing fee of $310.00 for a non-jury trial or $410.00 for a jury trial. Additional funds may be required in order to secure a proper appeal. If so, it will be the responsibility of the party who appeals. The Clerk's Office cannot give legal advice. You may need the assistance of an attorney if you choose to appeal because the simplified procedures of District Civil court do not apply in Circuit Court.
Back to Top
If you, the plaintiff, wins, how do you collect the judgment?
If, after 14 days, the defendant does not pay the judgment, it is up to you, and not the court, to take one of the following actions to collect your judgment: Forms for the following are available in the clerk's office.
- Garnishment of Wages - It must meet state and federal requirements in order to collect using this method. Must have name and address of Defendant's employer. Process of Garnishment
- Garnishment of Bank Account - Must know of the defendant's bank and bank address.
- Execution for Levy on Property - Obtain a court order authorizing the sheriff to pick up any property belonging to the defendant and sell it to satisfy the judgment. The property levied cannot be under a recorded mortgage (plaintiff can check with the probate court for recordings). Writ of Execution
All of the above actions require an additional filing fee. The clerk has the necessary forms and sometimes the method of collection may become involved. You may wish to have an attorney explain the procedure and assist you in filing the appropriate forms. Again the court clerk cannot give you legal advice.
* As a point of information, you cannot garnish a retirement, disability, unemployment, social security, welfare or child assistance check.
The court has no way of collection outside of the above mentioned methods and judgments are good for up to ten years. It is important to mention, it is easier to get a judgment than it is to collect on it. A judgment is not a guarantee of collection.
The plaintiff can request a certificate of judgment and have it recorded in the county probate court. It will then go on record and must be satisfied before the defendant can borrow money or sell property.
Back to Top