SB305 Alabama 2017 Session

Updated Feb 27, 2026

Low Interest

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Dick Brewbaker
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2017
Title: Montgomery Co., civil service of process fee, collection by sheriff clarified, Act 2015-264, 2015 Reg. Sess., am'd.
Summary: SB305 adds a $30 per-document service of process fee for Sheriff-served documents in Montgomery County courts and for matters outside the county, and explains how the money is collected and used.
What This Bill Does
Imposes a new one-time service of process fee of $30 per document requiring personal service by the Montgomery County Sheriff for matters pending or commenced in a court in Montgomery County or outside it. The fee is collected by the court official designated for the respective courts. Ten percent of the fee goes to the circuit clerk to support the clerk’s office, and the remainder goes to the Montgomery County general fund. The bill includes exemptions for hardship (with a verified statement) and for the district attorney, law enforcement, and grand juries; it also specifies an effective date when the law takes effect.

Who It Affects
Individuals or entities requiring personal service of process (such as plaintiffs, defendants, or others) for civil or criminal matters in Montgomery County or in courts outside the county, who would pay a new $30 per-document fee unless hardship applies.
Montgomery County government operations, including the Sheriff’s Office and the circuit clerk’s office, which collect and distribute the fee (10% kept by the circuit clerk for the clerk’s fund and the remainder to the county general fund).

Key Provisions
Adds an additional one-time service of process fee of $30 per document for personal service of process by the Sheriff of Montgomery County for matters pending or commenced in courts in Montgomery County.
Also imposes the same $30 per document fee for matters pending or commenced in courts outside Montgomery County.
The circuit clerk collects the fee; 10% is retained for the circuit clerk’s fund and the remainder goes to the Montgomery County general fund.
Exempts the fee from payment if paying would create a substantial hardship (verified statement approved by the court). Exempts the district attorney, law enforcement, and grand juries from paying the fee.
Effective date: the act becomes effective on the first day of the third month after passage and approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.
Subjects: Montgomery County