Time Provisions.

Ala. Code tit. 6, ch. 2, art. 2

in effect

Ala. Code § 6-2-30 Commencement of Actions - Generally; Actions for Injuries Resulting from Exposure to Asbestos.

6-2-30. Commencement of Actions - Generally; Actions for Injuries Resulting from Exposure to Asbestos. (a) All civil actions must be commenced after the cause of action has accrued within the period prescribed in this article and not afterwards, unless otherwise specifically provided for in this code. (b) A civil action for any injury to the person or rights of another resulting from exposure to asbestos, including asbestos-containing products, shall be deemed to accrue on the first date the injured party, through reasonable diligence, should have reason to discover the injury giving rise to such civil action. This subsection shall not apply to or affect in any way, actions referred to in Section 6-5-482. (Code 1852, §2474; Code 1867, §2898; Code 1876, §3223; Code 1886, §2612; Code 1896, §2793; Code 1907, §4832; Code 1923, §8941; Code 1940, T. 7, §18; Acts 1980, No. 80-566, p. 876, §2.)

Ala. Code § 6-2-31 Commencement of Actions - No Limitation.

6-2-31. Commencement of Actions - No Limitation. (a) There is no limitation of the time within which the state may commence actions for the recovery of any of the land mentioned in Section 6-6-281. (b) There is no limitation of the time within which a county or municipal corporation may commence an action for the recovery of its lands. (Code 1907, §§4830, 4831; Code 1923, §§4939, 4940; Code 1940, T. 7, §§16, 17.)

Ala. Code § 6-2-32 Commencement of Actions - Twenty Years.

6-2-32. Commencement of Actions - Twenty Years. Within 20 years, actions upon a judgment or decree of any court of this state, of the United States, or of any state or territory of the United States must be commenced. (Code 1852, §2475; Code 1867, §2899; Code 1876, §3224; Code 1886, §2613; Code 1896, §2794; Code 1907, §4833; Code 1923, §8942; Code 1940, T. 7, §19.)

Ala. Code § 6-2-33 Commencement of Actions - Ten Years.

6-2-33. Commencement of Actions - Ten Years. The following actions must be commenced within 10 years: (1) Actions founded upon any contract or writing under seal. (2) Actions for the recovery of lands, tenements or hereditaments, or the possession thereof, except as otherwise provided in this article. (3) Motions and other actions brought by or on behalf of the State of Alabama, a county, a municipality, or another political subdivision of the state against sheriffs, coroners, constables, and other public officers for nonfeasance, misfeasance, or malfeasance in office. (Code 1852, §2476; Code 1867, §2900; Code 1876, §3225; Code 1886, §2614; Code 1896, §2795; Code 1907, §4834; Code 1923, §8943; Code 1940, T. 7, §20; Acts 1996, No. 96-513, p. 657, §1.)

Ala. Code § 6-2-34 Commencement of Actions - Six Years.

6-2-34. Commencement of Actions - Six Years. The following must be commenced within six years: (1) Actions for any trespass to person or liberty, such as false imprisonment or assault and battery; (2) Actions for any trespass to real or personal property; (3) Actions for the detention or conversion of personal property; (4) Actions founded on promises in writing not under seal; (5) Actions for the recovery of money upon a loan, upon a stated or liquidated account or for arrears of rent due upon a parol demise; (6) Actions for the use and occupation of land; (7) Motions and other actions against the sureties of any sheriff, coroner, constable, or any public officer and actions against the sureties of executors, administrators, or guardians for any nonfeasance, misfeasance, or malfeasance, whatsoever, of their principal, the time to be computed from the act done or omitted by their principal which fixes the liability of the surety; (8) Motions and other actions against attorneys-at-law for failure to pay over money of their clients or for neglect or omission of duty; and (9) Actions upon any simple contract or speciality not specifically enumerated in this section. (Code 1852, §2477; Code 1867, §2901; Code 1876, §3226; Code 1886, §2615; Code 1896, §2796; Code 1907, §4835; Code 1923, §8944; Code 1940, T. 7, §21.)

Ala. Code § 6-2-35 Commencement of Actions - Five Years.

6-2-35. Commencement of Actions - Five Years. The following must be commenced within five years: (1) Where lands have been sold under a judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction, all actions founded on an equity of redemption existing in any person not a party to the proceedings who claims under the mortgagor or grantor in the deed of trust; and (2) Except as otherwise specifically provided for, all actions by the state or any subdivision thereof for the recovery of amounts claimed for licenses, other than business licenses defined in Section 11-51-90.1, municipal or county franchise taxes, or other taxes. (Code 1852, §2478; Code 1867, §2902; Code 1876, §3227; Code 1886, §2616; Code 1896, §2797; Code 1907, §4836; Code 1923, §8945; Code 1940, T. 7, §22; Act 2006-586, p. 1548, §2.)

Ala. Code § 6-2-36 Commencement of Actions - Four Years.

6-2-36. Commencement of Actions - Four Years. Within four years, all actions or motions against any surety to any writ of error, appeal, replevy, or forthcoming bond executed in any case in any of the courts of the United States or of any other state or country except this state must be commenced. (Code 1852, §2479; Code 1867, §2903; Code 1876, §3228; Code 1886, §2617; Code 1896, §2798; Code 1907, §4837; Code 1923, §8946; Code 1940, T. 7, §23.)

Ala. Code § 6-2-37 Commencement of Actions - Three Years.

6-2-37. Commencement of Actions - Three Years. The following must be commenced within three years: (1) Actions to recover money due by open or unliquidated account, the time to be computed from the date of the last item of the account or from the time when, by contract or usage, the account is due; and (2) Proceedings in any court of this state to disbar any attorney authorized to practice law in this state. (Code 1852, §2480; Code 1867, §2904; Code 1876, §3229; Code 1886, §2618; Code 1896, §2799; Code 1907, §4838; Acts 1915, No. 814, p. 928; Code 1923, §8947; Code 1940, T. 7, §24.)

Ala. Code § 6-2-38 Commencement of Actions - Two Years.

6-2-38. Commencement of Actions - Two Years. (a) An action by a representative to recover damages for wrongful act, omission, or negligence causing the death of the decedent under Sections 6-5-391 and 6-5-410 must be commenced within two years from the death. (b) All actions by common carriers of property subject to Chapter 3 of Title 37 for recovery of their charges, or any part thereof, shall be begun within two years from the time the cause of action accrues and not after. (c) For recovery of charges, action shall be begun against common carriers of property by motor vehicles subject to this article within two years from the time the cause of action accrues and not after, except as provided in subsection (d) of this section; provided, that if claim for the overcharge has been presented in writing to the carrier within the two-year period of limitation, said period shall be extended to include six months from the time notice in writing is given by the carrier to the claimant of disallowance of the claim, or any part or parts thereof, specified in the notice. (d) If on or before the expiration of the two-year period of limitation in subsection (c) of this section, a common carrier by motor vehicle subject to Chapter 3 of Title 37 begins action under subsection (c) of this section for recovery of charges in respect of the same transportation service or, without beginning action, collects charges in respect of that service, said period of limitation shall be extended to include 90 days from the time such action is begun or such charges are collected by the carrier. (e) The cause of action in respect of a shipment of property shall, for the purpose of subsections (b) through (f) of this section, be deemed to accrue upon delivery or tender of delivery thereof by the carrier and not after. (f) The term “overcharges” as used in subsections (b) through (e) of this section shall mean charges for transportation services in excess of those applicable thereto under the tariffs lawfully on file with the Public Service Commission. (g) Any action brought under Section 25-5-11(b) must be brought within two years of such injury or death. (h) All actions for malicious prosecution must be brought within two years. (i) All actions for seduction must be brought within two years. (j) All actions qui tam or for a penalty given by statute to the party aggrieved, unless the statute imposing it prescribes a different limitation, must be brought within two years. (k) All actions of libel or slander must be brought within two years. (l) All actions for any injury to the person or rights of another not arising from contract and not specifically enumerated in this section must be brought within two years. (m) All actions for the recovery of wages, overtime, damages, fees, or penalties accruing under laws respecting the payment of wages, overtime, damages, fees, and penalties must be brought within two years. (n) All actions commenced to recover damages for injury to the person or property of another wherein a principal or master is sought to be held liable for the act or conduct of his agent, servant, or employee under the doctrine of respondeat superior must be brought within two years. (o) All actions commenced under Section 6-5-411 to recover damages for injury or damage to property of a decedent must be brought within two years. (p) If any action is commenced before the time limited has expired, judgment is entered for the plaintiff and such judgment is arrested or reversed on appeal, the plaintiff or his legal representative may commence an action again within one year from the reversal or arrest of such judgment though the period limited may in the meantime have expired; and in like manner, if more than one judgment is arrested or reversed, an action may be recommenced within one year. (Code 1896, §2800; Code 1907, §4839; Code 1923, §8948; Code 1940, T. 7, §25; Acts 1953, No. 760, p. 1022, §§1-4; Acts 1984, 2nd Ex. Sess., No. 85-39, p. 40, §1.)

Ala. Code § 6-2-40 Commencement of Actions - Six Months.

6-2-40. Commencement of Actions - Six Months. No action shall be commenced to test the validity of any election held by any municipality of this state for the purpose of issuing bonds or levying taxes, nor to attack the issuance of bonds pursuant to such election, unless commenced within six months from the date of declaring the result of said election. (Acts 1919, No. 54, p. 57; Code 1923, §8950; Code 1940, T. 7, §27.)

Ala. Code § 6-2-41 Limitations on Claims to Charge Real Estate with Debts and Obligations of Decedent.

6-2-41. Limitations on Claims to Charge Real Estate with Debts and Obligations of Decedent. (a) The real estate of persons dying testate or intestate shall, as against the rights of mortgagees or purchasers for value from the heirs or devisees, be forever discharged from the payment of all legal and equitable debts and obligations unless the persons, including minors and insane persons, owning such debts or benefited by said obligations shall within the time allowed by law, but in no event more than two years from the death of the deceased, file in the probate court of the county where said property is located a verified claim showing the nature and amount of said debts and obligations. (b) Wherever there has been no executor or administrator appointed, then the person owning said debt or benefited by said obligation must, within three months after filing said claim, cause letters testamentary or of administration to be issued and proceed to subject said land to said debts or obligations. (c) This section shall not apply to any lien which is expressly created or reserved in any conveyance which may be duly recorded in the probate court or probate office in the county in which the land is situated so as to give notice of said conveyance, nor to any judgments recorded as authorized. (Acts 1915, No. 487, p. 547; Code 1923, §§8953, 8954; Code 1940, T. 7, §§51, 52.)

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