Legal Services Alabama
Last updated August 2026
Legal Services Alabama provides free civil legal help to low-income Alabamians statewide, with offices in Anniston, Birmingham, Dothan, Huntsville, Mobile, Montgomery, Selma, and Tuscaloosa. Apply by calling the intake line at 1-866-456-4995, weekdays 8:30 to 4:30, or online. If court papers arrive, start here right away, because Alabama's eviction deadlines are short.
Start with the rule that gives you a chance to fix it. For nonpayment of rent, an Alabama landlord must give written notice stating the amount owed and that you have seven business days to pay. Paying within that window can stop the case before it is filed.
If it becomes a lawsuit, the clock is unforgiving. An eviction case is called an Unlawful Detainer, and you must file an answer at the county courthouse within seven calendar days of being served, or the landlord wins automatically. Responding on time is the single most important thing you can do.
Losing is not the end of the line, but the window is tight. If you lose, you have seven calendar days to file an appeal, and a Writ of Possession, the order to remove you, can be issued on the eighth day after judgment if you do not appeal.
Legal Services Alabama does more than housing. It helps with public benefits like Social Security, SSI, SNAP, Family Assistance, and unemployment, plus family and domestic violence and consumer issues, so a benefits denial or a debt problem is also worth a call.
Move fast and get help. Call the intake line the day papers arrive, and dial 2-1-1 for local rent funds that can pay the balance before the seven business days run out.
Phone 1-866-456-4995
Help available in English and Spanish.
Updated August 2026 Program details can change — confirm with the program directly.
Who qualifies
- Low-income Alabama residents with a civil, noncriminal legal problem; each of the eight regional offices sets its own income guidelines
- If your income is close to the line, apply anyway and let the intake staff decide
You may qualify. The program makes the final decision.
How to apply
- 1
Read any nonpayment notice; you have seven business days to pay before a filing.
- 2
Call Legal Services Alabama at 1-866-456-4995, or apply online, right away.
- 3
If served with an Unlawful Detainer, file your answer at the courthouse within seven calendar days.
- 4
If you lose, note the seven-day appeal window; call 2-1-1 about emergency rent funds.
What the application looks like
Common questions
How much time do I get for unpaid rent?
Seven business days to pay after written notice stating the amount owed. Paying within that window can stop the case.
What happens if I am served with an eviction lawsuit?
An Unlawful Detainer requires you to file an answer at the county courthouse within seven calendar days, or the landlord wins automatically.
Can I appeal if I lose?
Yes, within seven calendar days. A Writ of Possession can be issued on the eighth day after judgment if you do not appeal.
How do I get free legal help?
Call Legal Services Alabama at 1-866-456-4995, weekdays 8:30 to 4:30, or apply online. It also handles benefits and consumer problems.
Not sure this is the right program for your situation?
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