Effective January 1, 2017, Alabama is adopting the “Alabama Rules for Expedited Civil Actions,” as drafted by the Supreme Court of Alabama. The Alabama Supreme Court has adopted the rules “to establish a voluntary, efficient, and just procedure to expedite civil actions….” The scope of the rules is as set forth below.

These Rules shall be known and cited as the “Alabama Rules for Expedited Civil Actions” and are intended to create a voluntary process to promote the just and efficient determination of the cases to which they apply. These Rules apply to actions in the circuit court where the damages are limited to $50,000 and the parties agree to the assignment of the action to an expedited track, pursuant to Rule B or C, except actions involving: (1) domestic relations or family law, (2) real-property law, (3) tax law, (4) workers’ compensation claims, and (5) claims as to which no money damages are sought. The circuit court shall enter a scheduling order in every civil action assigned to the expedited track, which shall incorporate the deadlines in the Expedited Scheduling and Discovery Order , except as may be modified by the circuit court for good cause.

Download a copy of the Alabama Rules for Expedited Civil Actions, inclusive of the comments and forms made available by the Alabama Supreme Court.

Photo by Karen Neoh.