Ala. Code §§ 6-6-310 to 6-6-353 § 6-6-337
Proceedings Upon Determination for Either Plaintiff or Defendant.
Operative Text
(a) If the judge determines in favor of the plaintiff, he must record the decision and enter judgment with costs, upon which he must issue a writ of execution commanding the sheriff or the constable to restore the plaintiff to possession or place him in possession of his lands and tenements according to complaint and to levy on and sell a sufficiency of the defendant’s goods and chattels, lands and tenements to satisfy the costs of the proceedings. Successive writs may issue at any time when necessary to eject defendant or collect costs and damages, and a defendant who refuses to obey the mandate of the writ as to the possession of the property or who enters upon the premises without just cause or legal excuse after being ejected shall be guilty of resisting an officer and contempt of court and shall be punished and fined accordingly, in the discretion of the court issuing the process. (b) If the judge determines in favor of the defendant, judgment must be entered in his favor for the costs, upon which an execution may issue as in other cases.
Under Alabama Code §§ 6-6-310 to 6-6-353, § 6-6-337, when a court rules in favor of the plaintiff in an eviction proceeding, the judge records the decision and issues a writ of execution directing law enforcement to restore the plaintiff to possession of the property and to collect costs from the defendant's assets. If a defendant refuses to comply with the writ or re-enters the property without legal justification after being removed, that conduct may be treated as resisting an officer and contempt of court, subject to court-imposed punishment. Conversely, if the court rules in favor of the defendant, judgment is entered for the defendant and the plaintiff may be required to pay costs.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 6-6-337, a landlord who prevails in an eviction action receives a court-recorded judgment and a writ of execution that directs the sheriff or constable to restore possession of the property. Compliant operators generally work through the official writ process rather than attempting self-help removal, since the statute places enforcement authority with law enforcement. Costs associated with the proceeding may be recovered through levy on the defendant's assets as part of the same writ.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 6-6-337 provides that a tenant who prevails in an eviction proceeding is entitled to a judgment in their favor, including recovery of costs. A tenant who has been removed pursuant to a writ should be aware that re-entering the premises without legal justification could expose them to contempt of court findings, while a tenant who believes the underlying proceeding was improper may wish to consult a tenant-rights organization or legal aid provider about available defenses or appeals. Understanding the writ process and its consequences is an important part of navigating eviction proceedings under Alabama law.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 16, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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