Foreclosure Defense in Alabama
Are you currently facing a threat of foreclosure in Alabama or are already going through proceedings? Consult with an experienced foreclosure defense lawyer to find out what your options are to save your home.
What Is Foreclosure?
The process begins when an Alabama homeowner does not make a mortgage payment. Alabama generally has a grace period of 1 year. But if you took out a loan after 2016, that grace period is only 180 days after the foreclosure sale. If after this time, the homeowner has not resolved the payment issue, the lender can begin to foreclose on the house. The home is sold to recover the losses caused by the owner being unable to pay their mortgage as stipulated in the mortgage contract.
Foreclosure By Power of Sale
The power of sale is a clause in the mortgage or deed of trust. It states that the lender can foreclose without court oversight. According to the Alabama State Bar, a foreclosure sale may not take place until 30 days after the last notice of sale has been published. This notice must be published once a week for 4 straight weeks in a newspaper in the county, or counties, in which the property is held. If the lender can prove that you meet these criteria, they can sell the foreclosed home.
Foreclosure By Judicial Sale
Foreclosure by judicial sale involves the sale of a mortgaged property under the supervision of the court. The court proceedings work first to satisfy the mortgage, then to satisfy the lien holders, and then to the lender. Foreclosure by judicial sale requires the lender to navigate the legal process carefully to ensure anyone who buys the foreclosed property legally owns the title.
Types of Foreclosure Defenses
If you’re in the process of foreclosure, you’ll want to do everything in your power to stop the foreclosure. Here are common foreclosure defenses your Alabama attorney might recommend.
The Bank Didn’t Follow State Procedures
The foreclosure process is complicated and time-consuming; oftentimes, that leads to errors. If the bank or other lender didn’t follow Alabama foreclosure procedures, you might have a good case for stopping the foreclosure.
The Mortgage Servicer Made Mistakes
Mortgage services can make mistakes when handling homeowners’ accounts. Here are some of the most common mistakes to look out for:
- Dual tracking, which means pursuing foreclosure at the same time a different loan modification is pending
- Sending your mortgage payments to the wrong party
- Overstating the amount of money you owe for your mortgage payments
- Imposing excessive fees for late payments that weren’t stipulated in the mortgage contract
If you think the mortgage servicer made these or other mistakes, contact an attorney in Alabama right away to help you stop the foreclosure process. This is one of the best options available to help you save your home.
You’re on Active Duty
The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) offers vital protections for active-duty military members, ensuring lenders in cannot foreclose on their homes without proper court proceedings. This law allows you to mount a defense with the assistance of an experienced foreclosure attorney.
One key protection under the SCRA is that if your mortgage was taken out before entering active duty, the foreclosure must go through the courts, even if state laws typically allow non-judicial foreclosures. This requirement stands unless you sign a waiver granting the lender permission to bypass judicial proceedings.
The Foreclosing Party Lacks “Standing”
The foreclosing party is the party that owns the loan. If the lender can’t prove that they own the loan, then that means they lack “standing”. They then can’t foreclose the home.
This happens a lot because banks often bundle your loan with other loans and sell them to other banks or investors. This can make it difficult to track who exactly owns the loan for your house.
The Statute of Limitations Has Passed
The statute of limitations protects homeowners from foreclosure if a significant amount of time has passed since they stopped making their mortgage payments. Believe it or not, some mortgages or missed payments do slip through the cracks.
The Alabama Department of Revenue lists the property code of Alabama and its foreclosure laws. Alabama has no definite statute of limitations as to when a lender must begin foreclosure proceedings. If you have missed payments for 120 days in Alabama, the lender can begin foreclosure proceedings at any time. However, you should note that Alabama is an incredibly strict state. In 2018, an Alabama court ruled in Barnes vs. U.S. National Bank, that the use of the word “may” in the contract gave those who took out the loan considerable deference and legal room to maneuver. Therefore, you may want to contact an attorney to review the language of your mortgage.
Additional Foreclosure Defenses
Here are some less common foreclosure defense options:
- You’re already making payments on a loan modification, which means the foreclosure should not have been initiated.
- You believe the lender violated federal regulations if you have a VA, USDA, or FHA loan.
- You never received a breach of contract letter from the lender informing you of the violation of your mortgage contract or deed of trust.
Preparing for the Foreclosure Defense Process
When an attorney takes on your case in Alabama, it’s important to remember that there are no guarantees that you’ll win, but your chances just climb higher. Each foreclosure case is unique and requires a deep understanding of your state’s foreclosure laws. A good attorney knows how to navigate the court system and will help you find any loopholes that can work to your advantage.
If you live in a state where foreclosures always happen in civil court, your attorney will simply bring any issues with the foreclosure up to the judge. If you live in a state where foreclosures typically happen outside of the court system, you and an attorney may have to start the judicial process by filing a lawsuit against the at-fault party. Even if you cannot stop the case, the attorney can help you stall the process while you get your affairs in order.
Work with an Experienced Foreclosure Defense Lawyer in Alabama
Even if you feel you don’t have a viable case, an attorney may find solid grounds for fighting the foreclosure. Consulting with an Alabama attorney is an objective way to find out if your case is worth going to court. Most first-time consultations with a lawyer are free, which means there’s no risk involved.
Take the first big steps toward fighting to keep your home. You can also delay the process for as long as possible until you find a new one. We can even help you connect with an attorney across Alabama state lines.
Submit a request online or call us today at (866) 345-6784 to get in touch with an experienced lawyer in your area!
About the Author
Aaron is a professional legal writer with a B.S. in English Education from Southern Illinois University – Carbondale. He has written, published, and edited thousands of legal articles for RequestLegalHelp, which has connected over 5 million people to legal help in the United States.
With over five years of experience writing thousands of legal articles for law firms across the U.S. and Canada, Aaron specializes in covering federal, state, and city-level legal issues ranging from auto accidents to wrongful terminations.
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