Waiver of Right to Exemptions.

Ala. Code tit. 6, ch. 10, art. 3

in effect

Ala. Code § 6-10-120 Right to Waive.

6-10-120. Right to Waive. Any person, by an instrument in writing, may waive his or her right to an exemption in any property exempt from levy and sale under execution or other process. (Code 1876, §2846; Code 1886, §2567; Code 1896, §2104; Code 1907, §4231; Code 1923, §7960; Code 1940, T. 7, §706.)

Ala. Code § 6-10-121 How Made - Personalty.

6-10-121. How Made - Personalty. As to personal property, the waiver may be made by a separate instrument in writing, subscribed by the party making the same, or it may be included in any bond, bill of exchange, promissory note, or other written contract executed by him or her. (Code 1876, §§2847, 2848; Code 1886, §2568; Code 1896, §2105; Code 1907, §4232; Code 1923, §7961; Code 1940, T. 7, §707.)

Ala. Code § 6-10-122 How Made - Homestead.

6-10-122. How Made - Homestead. As to the homestead, the waiver must be by a separate instrument in writing, subscribed by the party making the same and attested by one witness. If such party is a married man, such waiver shall not be valid without the voluntary signature and assent of the wife and acknowledgment by her before an officer authorized to take acknowledgments in the form of the individual acknowledgment prescribed by this Code. If such party is a married woman, such waiver shall be executed only in the mode prescribed by Section 30-4-12 for the alienation of her lands. (Code 1876, §§2847, 2848; Code 1886, §2569; Code 1896, §2106; Code 1907, §4233; Code 1923, §7962; Code 1940, T. 7, §708; Acts 1951, No. 84, p. 301.)

Ala. Code § 6-10-123 Enforcement in Action.

6-10-123. Enforcement in Action. In any civil action, in which a waiver of the right of homestead or other exemption is sought to be enforced, the fact of waiver and its extent must be averred in the complaint or petition and by appropriate pleading may be controverted. If such averment is sustained, the fact of waiver and its extent must be declared in the judgment and endorsed on the execution or other process issued thereon. Such waiver shall extend to the costs of the action. (Code 1876, §2849; Code 1886, §2570; Code 1896, §2107; Code 1907, §4234; Code 1923, §7963; Code 1940, T. 7, §709.)

Ala. Code § 6-10-124 Attachment - Endorsement on Writ.

6-10-124. Attachment - Endorsement on Writ. When such action is commenced by attachment or, in aid thereof, an ancillary attachment is sued out, the officer issuing the writ of the plaintiff, in person or by his agent or attorney, producing before him the written evidence of the waiver or making and filing with him an affidavit that the exemption has been waived, must endorse on the writ the fact of such waiver and the extent thereof. (Code 1876, §2850; Code 1886, §2571; Code 1896, §2108; Code 1907, §4235; Code 1923, §7964; Code 1940, T. 7, §710.)

Ala. Code § 6-10-125 Attachment - Proceedings When Waiver Not Sustained.

6-10-125. Attachment - Proceedings When Waiver Not Sustained. When such attachment is levied on property embraced in a declaration of claim of exemption which has been filed for record, or subsequent to the levy a claim to such property as exempt is interposed, if, on the trial, the averment of waiver is not sustained, the levy shall be discharged and the property returned to the defendant, unless the plaintiff, within five days after judgment, shall contest the claim. If such plaintiff should desire to contest, such contest may be instituted and prosecuted as in other cases. (Code 1886, §2572; Code 1896, §2109; Code 1907, §4236; Code 1923, §7965; Code 1940, T. 7, §711.)

Ala. Code § 6-10-126 Exceptions.

6-10-126. Exceptions. (a) No waiver of exemption in any written instrument shall be held to apply to or include or authorize the levy of an execution or attachment on any of the following property for any debt contracted: (1) Cooking utensils, cooking stoves, table, tableware, chairs, bed and bed clothing in actual use by the family; (2) Wearing apparel; (3) A vehicle used by and essential to the debtor’s business; (4) Tools used personally by and essential to the debtor’s business; (5) The library of the debtor. (b) Any levy upon such property is absolutely void. (c) This section shall not apply to such property set out in subdivisions (3) and (4) of subsection (a) pledged in a consensual security agreement. (Code 1907, §4237; Acts 1915, No. 797, p. 916; Code 1923, §7966; Code 1940, T. 7, §712; Acts 1984, No. 84-381, p. 890.)

Source: Alabama Legislature (alison.legislature.state.al.us)URL: https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/code-of-alabamaFetched: 10/20/2026