Form CR-11 at a glance
What it is: Form CR-11 is the State of Alabama Unified Judicial System APPEARANCE BOND.
Where and when to file: The Original is for the COURT RECORD, and the DEFENDANT and the SURETY each get a Copy.
A filled-in Form CR-11 example: a surety signs a property bond
How to fill out Form CR-11, box by box
Case Number
Enter the Case Number.
Court, STATE OF ALABAMA or MUNICIPALITY, and Defendant
Enter the Circuit, District or Municipal court and the Name of County or Municipality after IN THE.
Mark STATE OF ALABAMA or MUNICIPALITY, then enter the Defendant after v.
I (we), as principal
Enter the Defendant after I, as principal.
Surety(ies), the sum, the date and time, and the charge
Enter the surety(ies), mark the State of Alabama or the municipality named in the court box, and enter the sum of $ (for municipal courts, this sum should not exceed $1,000) and such costs as authorized by law unless the defendant appear(s) before that court on the date and at the time you enter (checked November 2, 2026).
If date and time are unknown, the words “the scheduled” may be placed in the date blank and a line may be placed in the space for time.
Enter the charge the defendant is to answer to; the appearance is from day to day of each session thereafter until defendant is discharged.
Signature of Defendant and Address
Sign at Signature of Defendant, then enter the Address (print), City, State and Zip.
Signature of Surety/Agent of Professional Surety or Bail Company
Sign at Signature of Surety/Agent of Professional Surety or Bail Company, then enter the Social Security Number and the Telephone Number.
Enter the Address (print), City, State and Zip.
The sureties jointly and severally certify that they have property valued over all debts and liabilities that has a fair market value equal to or greater than the amount of the bond.
The sureties, and each of them, waive the benefit of all laws exempting property from levy and sale under execution or other process for the collection of debt by the Constitution and laws of the State of Alabama, and they especially waive their rights to claim as exempt their wages or salary that they have under the laws of Alabama, and their rights to homestead exemptions that they have under the Constitution of Alabama and the laws of the State of Alabama, as set in a separate writing.
Approved by: Judge/Magistrate/Sheriff
Approved by: Judge/Magistrate/Sheriff.
Approved by: Judge/Magistrate/Sheriff, with the Date.
Defendant's Information
Under Defendant's Information, enter the Date of Birth, Sex, Height, Weight and Employer.
Enter the Social Security Number, Race, Hair, Eyes and Employer's Address.
Enter the Driver's License Number (state), Telephone Number and Employer's Telephone Number.
Property Bond, Professional Surety/Bail Company Bond or Cash Bond
Mark Property Bond, Professional Surety/Bail Company Bond or Cash Bond.
More rules for Form CR-11
If the trial is moved to another county/municipality, this undertaking is for the appearance of the defendant from day to day of each session of the court to which the defendant is removed until discharged by law.
Common questions about Form CR-11
Where do I file it?
The Original is for the COURT RECORD, and the DEFENDANT and the SURETY each get a Copy.
Is there a penalty?
Signed and sealed this date with notice that false statements are punishable as perjury.
Sources
[1] Form CR-11 (Rev.8/98), Appearance Bond, State of Alabama Unified Judicial System (the Official source link on this page).