| Alabama Foreclosure
Procedure
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Use the following foreclosure process
to develop a definite plan of action with well-timed, well-informed
steps, so you can stop the foreclosure process and save your home!
Judicial Foreclosure Available: Yes
Non judicial Foreclosure Available: Yes
Alabama allows foreclosure in one of
three ways:
- by filing a lawsuit to foreclosure;
- by a foreclosure sale conducted in
accordance with the terms specified under a power of sale clause in
the deed of trust or mortgage, or
- if there is no power of sale clause,
then by a public sale at the courthouse steps.
Foreclosure by filing a lawsuit seeking
a court order to foreclose is not common. Methods two and three are more
commonly used.
Power of Sale Foreclosure
Preliminary Notices
Advertising
The sale may not take place until 30
days after publishing an advance notice of the time, place and terms of
the sale once a week for four consecutive weeks. The notice must be
published in the county in which the property is located.
Sale Procedures
Documents May Specify Procedures
If the mortgage or deed of trust
contains a power of sale clause and specifies the time, place and manner
of the foreclosure sale, then that procedure must be followed.
Statutory Procedure
However, if the mortgage or deed of
trust with a power of sale clause is silent as to the place of terms of
the sale, or as to the type of notice of the sale, then a foreclosure
sale may be made at the courthouse door of the country where the
property is located, after a breach of the conditions or requirements of
the mortgage, or deed of trust, by selling for cash to the highest
bidder. However, in the case of a sale under a mortgagee or deed of
trust with a power of sale clause, a foreclosure deed conveys the title.
Foreclosure Without a Power of Sale
Clause
If the mortgage or deed of trust lacks
a power of sale clause and the lender chooses not to file a lawsuit to
foreclose, then the lender may foreclose by selling the property for
cash to the highest bidder at the courthouse door in the county where
the property is located. Advance notice of the time, place, terms and
purpose of the sale must be given by publishing an ad once a week for
four consecutive weeks in a newspaper in the county where the property
is located.
Deficiency
The lender may sue to foreclose the
mortgage without filing a suit to obtain a deficiency judgment.
Alternatively, the lender may sue to foreclose, and then sue for any
resulting deficiency. It is the lender’s choice.
Redemption
The borrower has a right to redeem
within one year after the foreclosure. Anyone who wants to redeem should
obtain a statement of the price paid for the property at the foreclosure
sale from whoever bought the property at the foreclosure sale. The
borrower can then redeem the property by paying the purchase price,
taxes, insurance, improvements and ten percent interests on the price
and all other the legitimate charges to the purchaser. If necessary, the
borrower can sue in the circuit court to redeem the property.
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