Alabama Debt Collection Laws: SOL, Garnishment, and Exemptions

Alabama Debt Law Quick Reference

Statute of Limitations in Alabama

The statute of limitations sets the deadline within which a creditor or debt buyer can sue you for an unpaid debt. In Alabama, the standard limits are 3 years for credit card debt, 6 years for written contracts, and 6 years for oral contracts. The clock generally starts on the date of last activity on the account, which for most credit accounts is the date of last payment.

If a collector sues after the statute has expired, you can plead the SOL as an affirmative defense in your answer and the case will typically be dismissed. The catch is that several actions can restart or extend the clock: making any payment (no matter how small), signing a payment agreement, sending written acknowledgment of the debt, and in some states, making a verbal admission. The cleanest way to handle a time-barred debt is to do nothing that could be construed as reviving it.

Judgments in Alabama are enforceable for 20 years and are typically renewable, which means a judgment can become a long-running source of collection pressure if not addressed.

Wage Garnishment in Alabama

Up to 25 percent of disposable earnings (federal cap applies). In Alabama, a creditor generally cannot garnish your wages without first obtaining a court judgment. The federal Consumer Credit Protection Act caps garnishment for consumer debt at 25 percent of disposable earnings (15 U.S.C. § 1673), and Alabama's rule applies the lower of the federal cap and the state limit.

Three categories of debt have different garnishment rules nationwide and override most state limits: child support and alimony (up to 50 to 60 percent of disposable earnings), federal income tax (IRS continuous wage levy with an exempt amount based on Publication 1494), and federal student loans (administrative wage garnishment up to 15 percent without a court order under 20 U.S.C. § 1095a).

If your wages are being garnished, filing bankruptcy stops most private-creditor garnishments immediately through the automatic stay (11 U.S.C. § 362). See our collection defense guide and bankruptcy overview for the broader playbook.

Bankruptcy Exemptions in Alabama

Alabama requires debtors to use the state exemption list. The Alabama-specific exemptions for consumer bankruptcy filers:

• Homestead: $16,450 ($32,900 married) of equity in a primary residence.
• Motor vehicle: $8,225 of equity in a vehicle.
• Wildcard: $8,225 personal property.

Retirement accounts receive separate, very strong protection in Alabama. ERISA-qualified plans (401(k), 403(b), most pensions) are fully exempt without dollar limit in every state under federal law. Traditional and Roth IRAs are protected up to $1,512,350 per person under 11 U.S.C. § 522(n). Social Security benefits are fully exempt under 42 U.S.C. § 407.

Alabama is one of the strictest exemption states. The homestead is doubled for married couples, but otherwise modest. Wildcard exemption is broad but applies only to personal property.

Alabama Debt Collection Statute

Alabama has no separate FDCPA companion statute; federal FDCPA controls. The federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (15 U.S.C. §§ 1692 to 1692p) applies in every state and sets the floor for consumer debt collection protection. Alabama's rules either extend those protections to additional entities (like original creditors) or provide additional remedies.

Common protections under both federal and state debt collection law: collectors cannot call before 8 AM or after 9 PM in your time zone; cannot use abusive, deceptive, or unfair practices; cannot threaten actions they have no legal right to take; cannot discuss the debt with third parties (other than for limited location purposes); must verify a disputed debt within 30 days of a written request; and must comply with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's Regulation F (effective 2021) on call frequency and electronic communications.

When Bankruptcy Makes Sense for Alabama Debtors

For most Alabama consumer debtors with $20,000+ of unsecured debt and below-median income, Chapter 7 bankruptcy is the fastest and cheapest path to resolving the debt. Total cost is typically $1,500 to $2,800, the case lasts 3 to 6 months, and qualifying unsecured debt is discharged entirely. The means test compares your household income to Alabama's state median for your household size (published by the U.S. Trustee Program and updated twice a year).

Chapter 13 is the right tool when you need to catch up on a mortgage to keep your house, protect nonexempt assets above the homestead or other exemption amounts, or address priority debt (recent taxes, child support arrears) that Chapter 7 cannot discharge.

For a deeper comparison of bankruptcy versus debt settlement and debt management plans, see our bankruptcy vs settlement and bankruptcy vs DMP guides.

Alabama Debt Collection FAQ