Can a squatter ever gain legal rights to my property in Alabama?

Not in any practical sense. Alabama's adverse possession law requires seven continuous years of open occupation without permission AND payment of property taxes on the land—a nearly impossible standard for someone squatting in your home. Even then, it almost never applies to residential properties. A squatter living in your house or apartment has essentially zero legal standing.

What if I didn't know someone was squatting and they've been there for months?

It doesn't matter how long they've been there. Time alone doesn't give them any rights under Alabama law. File your forcible detainer action immediately—the court doesn't care whether it's been two weeks or two months. The sooner you file, the sooner the eviction process starts.

Can I change the locks or remove a squatter's belongings myself?

No—that's called "self-help eviction" and it's illegal in Alabama, even if the person has zero right to be there. You must go through the courts. If you lock them out or remove their stuff without a court order, they can sue you for damages, and the sheriff might not back you up on possession enforcement.

Squatters Rights in Mobile, Alabama

Here's the thing: squatters don't have meaningful legal rights in Mobile, Alabama, and a property owner can remove them through the eviction process relatively quickly.

Alabama law doesn't recognize adverse possession or "squatters' rights" in any practical sense that would protect someone living on your property without permission.

What Alabama law actually says about squatters

Look, I need to be straight with you—Alabama courts don't give squatters a break. Under Alabama Code § 6-5-220 and related statutes, a person living on your property without your permission and without paying rent is trespassing, plain and simple. There's no special "squatters' rights" doctrine that lets them stay if they've been there a certain number of years or if they've maintained the property.

The closest thing Alabama has to adverse possession is a legal concept called "adverse possession," but it requires very specific conditions that almost never apply to someone squatting in an occupied residential property. That person would need to occupy your land openly, without permission, for seven years continuously (not hidden, not secret). Even then, they'd need to pay property taxes on it the whole time. If you're dealing with someone actually living in your house or apartment without your consent, adverse possession isn't going to be their ticket to ownership.

What matters more for you as a property owner is knowing how to get them out quickly and legally.

The eviction timeline in Mobile

Here's what you need to know about the process. If someone's squatting on your Mobile property, you've got to follow Alabama's eviction procedures—you can't just change the locks or remove their belongings yourself (even though they have no right to be there). That might feel unfair, but it protects you legally.

First, you'll file a "forcible detainer" action in Mobile District Court (which handles evictions). Alabama Code § 6-6-360 sets out the rules for this type of case. You'll need to file a complaint, pay the court filing fee (currently around $150–$200 in Mobile, depending on the court's fee schedule), and have the defendant served with notice.

The defendant then has three business days to respond to your complaint—not calendar days, business days. If they don't respond, you can win by default. (More on this below.) If they do respond, the court will schedule a hearing, usually within 7–10 days of filing.

Real talk—most squatter cases move fast because the defendant has almost no legal defense. Once the judge rules in your favor, you'll get a judgment for possession. The court will then issue a "writ of possession," and you've got to wait at least ten days before the sheriff can physically remove the person and their belongings from your property.

Total timeline: if you move quickly and the squatter doesn't fight back, you're looking at roughly 3–4 weeks from filing to removal. If they respond and the judge schedules a hearing, add another 7–10 days.

Costs you'll pay

Let's talk money because evictions aren't free. You'll have court filing fees (roughly $150–$200), service of process fees (the sheriff charges around $50–$75 to serve the defendant), and potentially attorney fees if you hire a lawyer (though many landlords handle simple squatter evictions themselves in small claims or district court).

You might also ask the court to award you "costs" related to the eviction—things like your filing fees and service costs. Alabama courts can order the losing party to pay these, though you won't recover attorney fees unless your lease or a specific statute authorizes it.

If the squatter has damaged your property, that's a separate claim you'd need to pursue—the eviction gets them out, but it doesn't automatically compensate you for damage.

What you should do right now

If you've got a squatter on your Mobile property, don't try to remove them yourself or threaten them with force. Contact a local attorney who handles evictions or visit the Mobile District Court Clerk's office to understand the filing process for your specific situation.

Document everything: take photos, write down dates you discovered the person there, save any written communication, and note whether they've paid any rent or utilities. This documentation strengthens your case and speeds up the hearing.

Practically speaking, your best move is to file the forcible detainer action as soon as you're certain someone's squatting. Don't wait—the longer you wait, the more you risk someone arguing they're a tenant with implied consent to stay, which complicates your case.

Key Takeaways

Alabama law doesn't recognize "squatters' rights"—someone living on your property without permission is trespassing and can be evicted through a forcible detainer action under Alabama Code § 6-6-360.
The eviction process in Mobile typically takes 3–4 weeks from filing to removal if uncontested, with court costs ranging from $200–$300 total.
You must follow legal procedures (filing with the court and having the defendant served) even though the squatter has no legal right to be there; self-help removal can expose you to liability.
Document everything and file quickly—the sooner you start the legal process, the sooner you regain full control of your property.