HB255 Alabama 2020 Session

Updated Feb 22, 2026

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Proncey Robertson
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2020
Title: Lawrence Co., service of process fee, increased, service for out-of-state documents, fee provided for, distribution
Summary: HB255 increases Lawrence County's service-of-process fees for local and out-of-state documents and directs how the money is collected and used.
What This Bill Does
The bill raises the local service-of-process fee by 17.50 per document and creates a 50 per-document fee for out-of-state documents. These fees are added to existing charges and treated as costs to the party. Funds collected are split: $5 of the local fee stays with the Circuit Clerk, the rest goes to the Sheriff’s Civil Process Fund, and the out-of-state fee goes entirely to the Sheriff’s Civil Process Fund. The Sheriff may use the funds for law enforcement purposes, and the measure ratifies prior collection actions with an effective date after passage and governor approval.

Who It Affects
Civil action parties in Lawrence County will pay higher service-of-process fees for both local and out-of-state documents, and these costs are added to existing charges.
Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office and the Circuit Clerk will collect and manage the new fees; funds are deposited into the Sheriff’s Civil Process Fund, with $5 of the local fee kept by the Clerk and the remainder (plus the out-of-state fee) going to the Sheriff for law enforcement use.

Key Provisions
Local service of process fee increased by $17.50 per document served by the sheriff or designee.
New $50 per-document fee established for out-of-state documents served by the sheriff or designee.
Fees are charged as costs to the party to the action.
For local fees, $5 is retained by the Circuit Clerk; the rest goes to the Sheriff’s Civil Process Fund.
Out-of-state fees are remitted to the Sheriff for deposit in the Sheriff’s Civil Process Fund.
Sheriff may use the funds for law enforcement purposes at the sheriff’s discretion.
Actions related to collection and use of the funds prior to the act are ratified.
The act becomes effective on the first day of the third month after passage and governor approval (or when it becomes law).

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.
Subjects: Lawrence County