House Bill 384 Alabama 2026 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Ronald BoltonRepresentative

Republican

Session

2026 Regular Session

Title

Tuscaloosa County; service of process fee for personal service amended

Summary

HB384 updates Tuscaloosa County's personal service fee and how the money is used, setting a $60 per-document rate (and $85 for out-of-state service) and directing fund distributions, effective June 1, 2026.

What This Bill Does

It sets a $60 fee for documents personally served by the Tuscaloosa County sheriff's office (or designee) in civil cases, and defines 'document' to include multiple papers served at once. It specifies that $3 of each fee is kept by the circuit clerk's office or the probate office for their operations, and the rest goes 50% to the Sheriff's Law Enforcement Fund and 50% to the District Attorney's Solicitor's Fund. It adds a higher $85 fee for out-of-state service, with the same 50/50 distribution, and lists exclusions for circuit court documents and certain mental health or probate orders. It also notes non-substantive revisions to update the act's language and sets the effective date as June 1, 2026.

Who It Affects

• Civil litigants in Tuscaloosa County who require personal service will pay the new $60 (or $85 out-of-state) fee.
• The Tuscaloosa County Sheriff's Office collects the fee and uses the funds to support its operations (Sheriff's Law Enforcement Fund).
• The Circuit Clerk's Office collects $3 of each fee for its operations (Circuit Clerk's Fund).
• The Office of the Judge of Probate collects $3 of each fee for its operations (Probate Office).
• The District Attorney's Office benefits from the 50% share of the net fees (Solicitor's Fund).
• People or entities outside Alabama who need documents personally served in Tuscaloosa County will face the $85 fee.

Key Provisions

• Sets a $60 per-document fee for personal service in Tuscaloosa County civil cases, with 'document' covering multiple papers served at once, and excludes circuit court documents and certain mental health/probate orders.
• Three dollars of each fee are retained by the circuit clerk's fund or probate office for their operations; the remaining net balance is distributed 50% to the Sheriff’s Law Enforcement Fund and 50% to the Solicitor’s Fund (District Attorney's office).
• For out-of-state personal service, the fee is $85 per document with the same 50/50 distribution to Sheriff’s and DA funds.
• The act includes non-substantive revisions to update language and takes effect June 1, 2026.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 12, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Tuscaloosa County