To file a claim with the Alabama Board of Adjustment, download the claim form that matches your type of loss from the Alabama Department of Finance website, fill it in with your identifying information and a detailed account of what happened, itemize your damages with supporting documents, sign it in front of a notary, and submit the completed packet to the Board’s Montgomery office by mail, fax, or email before the statutory deadline runs out. The Board is the only avenue Alabama provides for most monetary claims against the state, because Section 14 of the state constitution bars suing the state in court.
Pick the Right Form for Your Claim
The Board uses separate forms for different claim types, and each form has its own instructions printed on it. The main ones are:
- Personal Injury Claim — for bodily harm caused by a state agency or employee
- Property Damage Claim — for damage to vehicles, buildings, or other property caused by the state
- Vendor Claim for Payment — for businesses or contractors owed money under a state contract
All forms are posted on the Alabama Department of Finance website. You can type into them on your computer, but you cannot submit them through the website. Print or save the completed form and send it in by one of the methods below.1Alabama Department of Finance. Board of Adjustment
Read the instructions on the form before you start filling fields. Incomplete forms or missing documentation will delay the claim.
Know Your Deadline Before You Start
If you miss the statutory deadline, the Board is legally prohibited from hearing your claim, and no state agency can waive the time limit. Alabama Code Section 41-9-65 sets these windows:
- Personal injury, property damage, or contract claims: one year from the date the cause of action accrues (usually the date of the incident or the date payment was due)
- Death claims: two years from the date of death; if the claim was previously filed in court and the court ruled against the claimant, the two-year clock restarts from the date of that final judgment
- Escheated property: ten years from the date the property escheated, with a three-year extension for minors after they turn nineteen
- Dependents of deceased peace officers or firefighters: two years from the date of death
- Disabled volunteer firefighters: one year from the date of the State Health Officer’s decision
If you are close to a deadline, file what you have and supplement later rather than waiting for perfect documentation.2Alabama Department of Finance. Rules of the Alabama Board of Adjustment
Filling In the Form
Identifying Information
Enter your full legal name, mailing address, phone number, and email. For identification you provide only the last four digits of your Social Security number, or the last four of your Federal Employer Identification Number if you are filing on behalf of a business. Name the specific state agency or department you believe is responsible. Getting the right entity matters, because the Board forwards your claim to that agency for a written response.3Alabama Board of Adjustment. Claim for Personal Injury
Statement of Facts
The factual narrative is the heart of the form. State exactly what happened: the date of the incident, the location and address, and how the state agency or employee caused your loss. Be specific. A vague account weakens the claim before anyone looks at the dollar figures.
Damages
For a personal injury claim, list every healthcare provider who treated you, including pharmacies, with the amount each one charged. You need itemized bills showing what treatment was provided, when, and at what cost. The form asks you to total medical expenses, lost wages, and miscellaneous costs into a grand total.3Alabama Board of Adjustment. Claim for Personal Injury
For property damage, include repair estimates or replacement values. For vendor claims, attach the contract, invoices, and any correspondence showing the agency acknowledged the debt. Every dollar you request should trace to a document in your supporting materials.
Supporting Documents
Attach everything that backs up your numbers and your version of events. Depending on the claim type, that may include:
- Itemized medical bills and pharmacy receipts
- Repair estimates or paid invoices
- Contracts and purchase orders
- Pay stubs or employer statements for lost wages
- Police or incident reports
- Photographs of injuries or property damage
- Witness statements
If the case eventually goes to a hearing, any evidence you plan to use must be shared with every party at least ten days beforehand. Affidavits follow the same ten-day rule; counter-affidavits must be served at least three days before the hearing.2Alabama Department of Finance. Rules of the Alabama Board of Adjustment
Get It Notarized
Every claim form must be signed in front of a notary public. The notary verifies your identity, witnesses your signature, and completes the verification block with their seal. A form submitted without proper notarization will be delayed or rejected outright.3Alabama Board of Adjustment. Claim for Personal Injury
Under Act 2023-548, a notary may charge up to $10 per notarial act. State, county, and municipal employees who are notaries cannot charge a fee when notarizing as part of their public duties, so check your local courthouse or library for a free option before paying.
How to Submit the Form
Once the form is complete, notarized, and packaged with your supporting documents, send it to the Board one of three ways:1Alabama Department of Finance. Board of Adjustment
- Mail: Board of Adjustment, Alabama State Capitol, 600 Dexter Avenue, Suite E-302, Montgomery, Alabama 36104
- Fax: (334) 242-2008
- Email: bdadj@finance.alabama.gov
If you mail it, use certified mail with return receipt so you have proof of delivery. Include your supporting documents regardless of which method you use.
What Happens After You File
Board staff assigns a case number and forwards a copy of your claim to the state agency you named. That agency gets a chance to file a written response, which builds the factual record before any hearing.
Hearings are held in Montgomery and run under a relaxed version of Alabama’s Rules of Civil Procedure for small claims and district court, along with the Alabama Rules of Evidence. Scheduling often takes several months after filing, and you will receive notice of the hearing date by mail. If you need to postpone, file a written motion for continuance at least five business days before the hearing; the Board allows a maximum of three continuances per claim.2Alabama Department of Finance. Rules of the Alabama Board of Adjustment
After reviewing the evidence and testimony, the Board issues a decree either granting a specific award or denying the claim. If it rules in your favor, the State Comptroller’s office processes the payment.
When the Board Cannot Hear Your Claim
The Board’s authority is limited to the categories listed in Alabama Code Section 41-9-62: personal injury or property damage caused by a state employee or state property; contract disputes with state agencies; state employee pay disputes; tax overpayments; escheated property; and wrongful incarceration. The Board can only hear claims that cannot be brought in court. If a judge could hear your dispute, the Board will not take it, and the Board’s own website recommends consulting a lawyer if you are unsure where your claim belongs.1Alabama Department of Finance. Board of Adjustment
One carve-out matters for drivers and contractors. Under Act 2017-393, claims against the Alabama Department of Transportation of $5,000 or less go directly to ALDOT’s Deputy Director of Administration at 1409 Coliseum Boulevard in Montgomery, not to the Board. Only ALDOT claims above $5,000 follow the standard Board of Adjustment process.2Alabama Department of Finance. Rules of the Alabama Board of Adjustment