Ala. Code §§ 35-9-1 to 35-9-100 § 35-9-7
Service of Demand or Notice.
Operative Text
(a) Any demand may be made or notice served by delivering a written or printed, or partly written and printed, copy thereof to the tenant, or by leaving the same with some person above the age of 18 years, residing on or in possession of the premises; and in case no one is in the actual possession of said premises, then by posting the same on the premises. (b) When any such demand is made or notice served by an officer authorized to serve process, his return shall be prima facie evidence of the facts therein stated, and if such demand is made or notice served by any person not an officer, the return may be sworn to by the person serving the same, and shall then be prima facie evidence of the facts therein stated.
Alabama Code § 35-9-7 establishes the acceptable methods for delivering a demand or notice to a tenant in a landlord-tenant relationship. A written or printed notice may be handed directly to the tenant, left with a resident of the premises who is over 18 years old, or posted on the property if no one is present. The provision also addresses how proof of delivery is established: a return made by an authorized process server is prima facie evidence of the facts stated, and a return by a private individual carries the same weight if sworn under oath.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 35-9-7, compliant operators generally ensure that any demand or notice is delivered through one of the three recognized methods — personal delivery to the tenant, substituted service on a qualifying adult resident, or posting on the premises when no one is present. Keeping a written record of which method was used, when it was used, and by whom helps establish proof of service if the matter is later disputed. When service is performed by someone other than an authorized process server, having that person swear to the return strengthens its evidentiary value under this provision.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section § 35-9-7 of the Alabama Code defines how a landlord must deliver a demand or notice for it to be legally recognized, which means a notice that was not delivered by one of the specified methods may not meet the statutory standard. Tenants who believe a notice was improperly served — for example, left with a minor or never actually posted or delivered — may have grounds to raise that deficiency in a legal proceeding. Consulting a tenant-rights organization or legal aid office can help clarify whether service in a particular situation complied with this provision's requirements.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 16, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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