State of Alabama 
Unified Judicial System 

orm SM-1 (front)      Rev. 3/95 

STATEMENT OF CLAIM  
(Complaint) 
General 

Case Number 

IN THE SMALL CLAIMS COURT OF _________________________________________________________________, ALABAMA  
                                                                                                                                                                            (Name of County) 
__________________________________________ v._______________________________________ 
                                        Plaintiff                                                                                                                   Defendant 

laintiff’s                                                                                                       Defendant’s 
Home Address                                                                                              Home Address 

laintiff’s Attorney’s                                                                                      Additional  
Address                                                                                                        Defendant(s)  
                                                                                                                        and Addresses 

NOTICE TO EACH DEFENDANT – READ CAREFULLY 

        YOU ARE BEING SUED IN THE SMALL CLAIMS COURT BY THE PLAINTIFF(S) SHOWN ABOVE. THE JUDGE HAS NOT YET 
MADE ANY DECISION IN THIS CASE, AND YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO A TRIAL TO TELL YOUR SIDE. 

        HOWEVER, IF YOU, OR YOUR LAWYER, FAIL TO FILL OUT THE ENCLOSED ANSWER FORM AND DELIVER OR MAIL IT TO 
THE CLERK AT THE ADDRESS SHOWN BELOW, SO THAT IT WILL GET TO THE CLERK’S OFFICE WITHIN FOURTEEN (14) DAYS 
AFTER  YOU  RECEIVE  THESE  PAPERS,  A  JUDGMENT  CAN  BE  TAKEN  AGAINST  YOU  FOR  THE  MONEY  OR  PROPERTY 
DEMANDED  IN  THE  FOLLOWING  COMPLAINT,  ONCE  A  JUDGMENT  HAS  BEEN  ENTERED  AGAINST  YOU,  YOUR  PAYCHECK   
CAN BE GARNISHED AND/OR YOUR HOME OR PROPERTY SOLD TO SATISFY THAT JUDGMENT. 

1. 

I claim the defendant owes the plaintiff the sum of $____________________  because: 

COMPLAINT 

.  Plaintiff  also  claims  from  the  defendant  court  costs  in  the  sum  of  $  ________________________  (see  note  below),  plus 
$__________________  for  interest  and  $________________  for  lawyers’  fees  (only  if  plaintiff  is  represented  by  a  licensed, 
practicing attorney and if the contract or note you signed so provides.) 

NOTE:         The total amount of court costs may be more than this amount when the case is finally settled.  The clerk will inform    

you of any additional costs at the close of the case.  

CLERK’S ADDRESS:                                                                  _____________________________________________________   

                                                                                                         Plaintiff or Plaintiff’s Attorney (Signature) 

                                                                                                         Attorney Code __________________________ 

                                                                                                        _____________________________________________________ 
                                                                                                         Plaintiff’s or Plaintiffs Attorney’s Phone Number 

Clerk’s Phone No. _______________________________ 

See instructions on the Back)                                                       Date of Filing_________________________________________

  F

  P

      P

           

  

    2

   

 

  (

 

Form SM-1 (back)   Rev. 3/95 

 

INSTRUCTIONS TO THE PLAINTIFF’S  

This is your case, and if you are acting as your own lawyer, you are responsible in seeing that your claim is successfully presented     

at each stage of the procedure until it is concluded. 

1. 

2. 

3. 

4. 

You  must  complete  one  of  these  forms  for  each  defendant  you  wish  to sue.  Each defendant must be described by his/her 
correct  legal  name  and  address  (not  a  post  office  box).  Be  as  brief  as  possible  but  include  every  important  name,  date     
and place 
To  start  your  case  you  must  file  the  completed  form  with  the  clerk  assigned  to  Small  Claims  cases.    The  clerk  will  stamp     
a copy for you to show that the case has been filed and will insert the number of the case on the front of this form. 
You  are  responsible  for  seeing  that  each  defendant  receives  a  copy  of  this  form.  If  you  haven’t  heard  from  anyone  about     
the case in about fourteen days, then check with the clerk’s office, to make sure that each defendant has been served.   
If any of the defendants ask for a trial you will be notified of the place, the date, and the time.  You must be present or your 
case  will  be  dismissed.    You  may  take  a  judgment  by  default  fourteen  (14)  days  after  the  defendant  has  received  a  copy     
of this form, if the defendant fails to file his/her Answer. 
You  are  responsible  to  see  to  the  enforcement  of  any  judgment  that  is  awarded  to  you.  It is not the responsibility of the 

5. 
       court or the clerk to collect the judgment for you. 

ANY TIME YOU CONTACT THE CLERK ABOUT THIS CASE YOU MUST REFER TO THE CASE NUMBER ON THE FRONT. 
   

INSTRUCTIONS TO SHERIFF OR PROCESS SERVER 

To Any Sheriff or Any Person Authorized by Rule 4.1(b)(1) or 4.1(b)(2) of the Alabama Rules of Civil Procedure to Effect Service in 
the State of Alabama. 

You  are  hereby  commanded  to  serve  this  summons  and  a  copy  of  the  Statement  of  Claim  in  this  action  upon  the  defendant(s) 
named  __________________________________________________________________________________________________ 
________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 
and make proper return to this court. 

ate ________________________                                                   _____________________________________ By__________ 

                                                                                                            Clerk 

RETURN ON SERVICE: 

Served on defendant(s) named _______________________________________________________________________________ 
________________________________________________________________________________________________________  
by delivering a copy of the Summons and Statement of Claim to him/her in ____________________________________________ 

County, Alabama, on (Date) ______________________________________________________________________, 

                                                                                                        ____________________________________________________ 
                                                                                                        Process Server Signature 

                                                                                                        ____________________________________________________ 
                                                                                                        Title of Process Server 

his service by certified mail of this Summons and Statement of Claim is initiated upon the request of _______________________ 

______________________________ pursuant to Rule 4.1.(c) of the Alabama Rules of Civil Procedure. 

ate Requested ___________________________________       Date Mailed __________________________________________ 

Return Receipt Date _______________________________         ______________________________  By___________________ 
                                                                                                        Clerk   
       
 

    D

  T

  D