Alabama Form C 20 PDF Details

When a court in Alabama awards a judgment against a defendant, the Writ of Execution (Form C-20) is the legal mechanism used to collect it. Issued by the Alabama Unified Judicial System, this 2-page document directs law enforcement officers to locate and seize the defendant's property to satisfy the judgment amount, court costs, and any related fees.

The writ authorizes officers to seize and, if necessary, sell both personal and real property to cover the court-ordered debt. Alabama law protects defendants through the companion Form C-25A (Notice of Right to Claim Exemptions From Execution), which is typically served alongside the writ. That document informs defendants which property may be exempt from seizure, including basic household goods, a vehicle needed for work, and tools required for a trade or profession. Defendants who receive a C-20 writ should review their exemption rights as soon as possible, because the window to claim exemptions is limited.

To complete Form C-20, the plaintiff or attorney fills in the court name, case number, judgment amount (including damages, costs, and accrued interest), and identifying information for both parties. The officer who executes the writ must complete the return of service section, noting what property was seized or why execution was not possible, then return the document to the court. Related documents in the Alabama Unified Judicial System include Form C-2 and Form C-34. For additional Alabama legal documents, browse our Alabama legal forms collection.

QuestionAnswer
Form NameAlabama Form C 20
Form TypeWrit of Execution
Issuing AuthorityAlabama Unified Judicial System
Form Length2 pages
Fillable?No
Fillable fields0
Avg. time to fill out30 sec
PurposeCourt judgment enforcement
Other namesNOTARIZED, ADDRESSEE, Exemptions, C-20

Form Preview Example

State of Alabama Unified Judicial System

Form C-20

Rev. 6/88

WRIT OF EXECUTION

Case Number

IN THE_______________________________________COURT OF ________________________________________, ALABAMA

(Circuit or District)

(Name of County)

_____________________________________________ V. __________________________________________________________

PLAINTIFF

DEFENDANT

Home Address:____________________________________

Home Address:_____________________________________

_________________________________________________

_________________________________________________

City/State/Zip Code:________________________________

City/State/Zip Code:_________________________________

Date of Judgment/forfeiture ________________________

Judgment amount $ ________________________

Court costs ________________________

Alternate property value ________________________

Damages/rent ________________________

Other ________________________

TOTAL $ ________________________

TO ANY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER OF THE STATE OF ALABAMA:

You are ordered to perform the action specified.

Seize the property described below which is in the possession of __________________________________________________

_________________________ and restore to ___________________________, If this property is not available, seize and sell any

personal and real property of _______________________________________________________________________________for

the alternate value of the property. Exemptions as to Personal Property waived.

Restore to ___________________________________________________________________________________the described property now in the possession of ____________________________________________________________________________, Collect $ _______________ for detention of the property.

Seize any real or personal property __________________________________________________________________________

that will satisfy the total monetary value specified above.

See description for exemption.

Exemption as to personal properTy waived.

Hold until further court action Sell and return

Sell property described below previously seized and being held by you.

Collect from _________________________________________________________________________________ the court cost amount. If cash cannot be collected, seize and sell any real or personal form which can be made the sum of the costs.

Description:

YOU ARE TO MAKE RETURN OF THIS EXECUTION AND EXPLAIN BELOW HOW YOU PERFORMED THE SPECIFIED ACTION.

Date issued: ______________________________

_____________________________________________ By: _________

 

Clerk

Exception Date_____________________________

Remarks:

____________________________________

___________________________________________

Sheriff

 

By Deputy Sheriff

 

 

 

COURT RECORD: Original

ADDRESSEE: Copy

 

State of Alabama Unified Judicial System

Form C-20A

Rev. 10/86

NOTICE OF RIGHT TO CLAIM EXEMPTIONS

FROM EXECUTION

Case Number

IN THE_______________________________________COURT OF ________________________________________, ALABAMA

 

(Circuit or District)

 

 

(Name of County)

 

_____________________________________________V. __________________________________________________________

 

PLAINTIFF

 

 

DEFENDANT

 

Home Address:____________________________________

Home Address:_____________________________________

_________________________________________________

_________________________________________________

City

State

Zip Code

City

State

Zip Code

Telephone Number:___________________________

Telephone Number:____________________________

 

The Writ of Execution delivered to you along with this Notice means that certain property belonging to you may be

taken

from you and sold to collect a court judgment against you.

 

 

 

However, the law gives you the right, under certain circumstances, to claim your property as “exempt” to keep it from being sold to collect certain kinds of court judgments. For example, you may be able to claim your “homestead exemption” to keep your home from being sold, or at least to keep a certain portion of the money from the sale.

You may also be able to keep up to $3,000 in personal property, including motor vehicle and household furniture and appliances, by claiming this property as exempt.

These examples are for purposes of illustration only. Whether you will be entitled to claim any exemption from the Writ of Execution, and if so, what property may be exempt, will be determined by the facts in your particular case. IF YOU ARE UNCERTAIN AS TO YOUR EXEMPTION RIGHTS, YOU SHOULD CONSULT A LAWYER FOR ADVICE. PERSONNEL IN THE CLERK’S OFFICE CANNOT GIVE YOU LEGAL ADVICE.

TO CLAIM ANY EXEMPTION THAT MAY BE AVAILABLE TO YOU, YOU MUST PREPARE A “CLAIM OF EXEMPTION" FORM BEFORE YOUR PROPERTY IS SOLD, LISTING ON IT THE PROPERTY TO BE SOLD (OR ANY PART THEREOF) IN DETAIL THAT YOU CLAIM TO BE EXEMPT. YOU MUST ALSO STATE APPROXIMATELY WHAT YOU THINK EACH ITEM IS WORTH, AND HOW MUCH (IF ANYTHING) YOU STILL OWE ON EACH SUCH ITEM. YOU MUST THEN HAVE THE “CLAIM OF EXEMPTION” NOTARIZED AND FILE IT IN THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE. YOU MUST ALSO FILE A COPY OF THE “CLAIM OF EXEMPTION” WITH THE CLERK OF THE COURT. THE CLERK CANNOT GIVE YOU LEGAL ADVICE. IT YOU NEED ASSISTANCE, YOU SHOULD SEE A LAWYER.

If you file a Claim of Exemption, the party who has a judgment against you will have approximately ten (10) days from receipt OF a copy thereof to file a “contest” of your Claim of Exemption. If a contest is filed, a court hearing will be scheduled, and you will be notified of the time and place of the hearing. If the party who has a judgment against you does not file a contest, the property (or any part thereof) claimed by you as exempt will be released fROm the execution.

If you do not file a Claim of Exemption, you are deemed to have waived your rights of exemptions, and your property may be sold or turned over to the party who has a judgment against you to help satisfy a judgment against you.

TO PROTECT YOUR RIGHTS, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU ACT PROMPTLY. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, YOU SHOULD CONSULT A LAWYER.

How to Edit Alabama Form C 20 Online for Free

Using PDF documents online is simple with our PDF editor. You can fill in Alabama Form C-20 here with ease. The tool is continuously updated with new features to make form-filling faster and more accurate. All it takes is a few steps:

Step 1: Click the orange "Get Form" button above to open the PDF editor for Form C-20.

Step 2: Once the editor opens, the C-20 form is ready to fill out. You can add text, edit existing text, insert graphics, apply your signature, and more.

The C-20 Writ of Execution has several required sections. Complete each part accurately:

1. Begin with the top section of Form C-20: enter the court name, case number, and judgment details. Confirm all required fields are complete before moving on.

Tips on how to fill out C-20 portion 1

2. In the next section, enter the execution directives: You are ordered to perform the, Seize the property described, amount If cash cannot be collected, and Description YOU ARE TO MAKE RETURN.

Writing section 2 of C-20

3. Complete the return of service: Description YOU ARE TO MAKE RETURN, Exception Date Remarks, Sheriff By Deputy Sheriff, and COURT RECORD Original ADDRESSEE. Fill out every field completely.

C-20 completion process described (stage 3)

4. The final section covers the C-20A Notice of Right to Claim Exemptions From Execution. Enter the Case Number, court name, plaintiff and defendant information (Home Address, City State Zip Code, and Telephone Number), and the Writ of Execution delivery details. Double-check the Writ of Execution delivered to field, as errors in that section are common.

Stage number 4 in filling in C-20

Step 3: Review your completed Form C-20 and click "Done." Sign up for a free 7-day trial to download your form. All data you enter on FormsPal remains private and is never shared.

Related Alabama Court Forms

Alabama courts use several forms alongside the C-20 Writ of Execution. The Alabama Form C-25A (Notice of Right to Claim Exemptions) is served with the writ. Other related forms include Form C-2 and Form C-34. Browse our full Alabama court forms collection for more documents.