(a) Every pleading, motion, or other paper of a party represented by an attorney shall be signed by at least one attorney of record in the attorney's individual name, whose address shall be stated. A party who is not represented by an attorney shall sign the pleading, motion, or other paper, and state the party's address. Except when otherwise specifically provided by rule or statute, pleadings, motions, or other papers need not be verified or accompanied by affidavit. The rule in equity that the averments of an answer under oath must be overcome by the testimony of two witnesses or of one witness sustained by corroborating circumstances is abolished. The signature of an attorney constitutes a certificate by the attorney that the attorney has read the pleading, motion, or other paper; that to the best of the attorney's knowledge, information, and belief there is good ground to support it; and that it is not interposed for delay. As provided in Rule 30(G) of the Alabama Rules of Judicial Administration, an electronic signature is a "signature" under these Rules. If a pleading, motion, or other paper is not signed or is signed with intent to defeat the purpose of this rule, it may be stricken as sham and false and the action may proceed as though the pleading, motion, or other paper had not been served. For a willful violation of this rule an attorney may be subjected to appropriate disciplinary action. Similar action may be taken if scandalous or indecent matter is inserted.
Rule 11.Signing of pleadings, motions, or other papers.
Last amended March 26, 2012 · Last verified July 6, 2026
In one sentenceRule 11 requires every pleading, motion, or other paper to be signed by an attorney or, if there is none, by the party itself, and that signature stands as a promise that the document has been read and has a good-faith basis.
Full Text of Rule 11
(b) Limited-scope representation. An attorney may draft or help to draft a pleading, motion, or other paper filed by an otherwise selfrepresented person. The attorney need not sign that pleading, motion, or other paper but shall include a notation at the end stating: "This document was prepared with the assistance of a licensed Alabama lawyer pursuant to Rule 1.2(c), Alabama Rules of Professional Conduct." In providing such drafting assistance, the attorney may rely on the otherwise selfrepresented person’s representation of the facts, unless the attorney has reason to believe that such representation is false or materially insufficient.
(dc) District Court Rule. Rule 11 applies in the district courts.
Amendment History
[Amended eff.10-1-95; Amended eff. 10-24-2008; Amended eff. 3-26-2012]
Committee Comments
Committee Comments on 1973 Adoption
For an approved form of signature under this rule, see United States to Use of Foster Wheeler Corp. v. American Surety Co., 25 F.Supp. 225 (E.D.N.Y.1938). Since the signature is to serve as an affidavit of merit, typing of counsel’s name will no longer be sufficient, contrary to the holding in Broglan v. Huntsville, 218 Ala. 9, 117 So. 419 (1928). Insofar as this rule provides for the signature of an attorney or party as a substitute for verification, it is almost identical with Equity Rule 115. It differs from that rule only in requiring the attorney’s address to be stated. The fourth sentence of the rule is similar to Equity Rule 13. Verification will still be required in special statutory proceedings, see Rule 81, to the extent that the statutes call for it. And these rules require verification of a complaint asserting secondary rights of shareholders in a class action, Rule 23.1, and of a petition to perpetuate testimony, Rule 27(a). Rule 65 permits verification of the complaint where a temporary injunction is sought; the verified complaint then can be regarded as an affidavit. Where verification is required, it should be by the party, rather than by the attorney, unless the attorney has personal knowledge of the facts alleged. This rule differs from the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure in that Alabama Rule 11 applies to motions and other papers as well as pleadings. The specific motivation for this expansion was the desire to make certain discovery devices such as requests for admissions and interrogatories subject to the provisions of Rule 11. See the commentary to Rule 33, Interrogatories.
Committee Comments to October 1, 1995, Amendment to Rule 11
The amendment is technical. No substantive change is intended.
Committee Comments to Amendment to Rule 11 Effective October 24, 2008
The amendment is to make clear that all pleadings, motions, or other papers, including those signed and filed electronically, are subject to the provisions of Rule 11. The other change is technical.
Note from the reporter of decisions: The order amending effective October 24, 2008, Rule 3, Rule 4, Rule 5, Rule 6, Rule 11, Rule 55, Rule 58, Rule 59.1, Rule 77, and Rule 79, and adopting effective October 24, 2008, the Committee Comments to Amendment to Rule 3(b) Effective October 24, 2008; Committee Comments to Amendments to Rule 4 Effective October 24, 2008; Committee Comments to Amendments to Rule 5 Effective October 24, 2008; Committee Comments to Amendments to Rule 6 Effective October 24, 2008; Committee Comments to Amendment to Rule 11 Effective October 24, 2008; Committee Comments to Amendment to Rule 55(a) Effective October 24, 2008; Committee Comments to Amendments to Rule 58 Effective October 24, 2008; Committee Comments to Amendment to Rule 59.1 Effective October 24, 2008; Committee Comments to Amendments to Rule 77(d) Effective October 24, 2008; and the Committee Comments to Addition of Rule 79(e) Effective October 24, 2008, is published in that volume of Alabama Reporter that contains Alabama cases from 994 So. 2d.
Note from the reporter of decisions: The order amending Rule 1.1, Rule 1.2(c), Rule 4.2, and Rule 4.3, Alabama Rules of Professional Conduct, and amending Rule 11, Alabama Rules of Civil Procedure, and adopting Rule 87, Alabama Rules of Civil Procedure, is published in that volume of Alabama Reporter that contains Alabama cases from So. 3d.
Plain-English Summary
An attorney representing a party must sign every pleading, motion, or other paper in an individual capacity and list an address; a party without a lawyer must sign personally and do the same. Alabama treats an electronic signature as satisfying this requirement, so filings submitted through electronic court systems are signed just as validly as documents bearing ink. Verification under oath or a supporting affidavit is not required unless some other rule or statute specifically calls for it, and Rule 11 does away with the old rule that sworn denials in an answer could only be overcome by two witnesses or one corroborated witness.
The signature itself carries legal weight. By signing, the attorney certifies personally having read the document and believing, to the best of their knowledge, that there is good ground to support it and that it was not filed to cause delay. A paper that goes unsigned, or that is signed only to get around this requirement, can be struck from the record as though it were never filed, and a court may pursue discipline against an attorney who violates the rule willfully or inserts scandalous or indecent material.
Rule 11 also addresses limited-scope representation: a lawyer may help draft a pleading or motion for someone who is otherwise representing themselves without signing the document or entering a formal appearance, as long as the filing carries a notation disclosing that a licensed Alabama lawyer assisted in preparing it. This lets self-represented litigants get targeted legal help without requiring the lawyer to take over the entire case.
Unlike its federal counterpart, which applies mainly to pleadings, Alabama's Rule 11 reaches motions and other papers as well, which brings tools like discovery requests and interrogatories within its certification requirement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who has to sign a pleading or motion under Rule 11?
An attorney of record, in an individual capacity with an address listed, if the party is represented. A party without a lawyer must sign personally and provide an address.
Does an electronic signature satisfy Rule 11?
Yes. An electronic signature is treated as a valid signature under the rule, so documents filed electronically meet the signing requirement without a handwritten signature.
What does an attorney's signature certify?
That the attorney has read the document, believes to the best of their knowledge there is good ground to support it, and is not filing it to cause delay.
Do pleadings need to be sworn to or notarized?
Generally no. Verification or an accompanying affidavit is only required when another rule or statute specifically demands it, such as certain injunction or shareholder-derivative filings.
Can a lawyer help write a document for someone representing themselves without appearing as their attorney?
Yes, under the limited-scope representation provision. The lawyer need not sign the document but must include a notation disclosing that a licensed Alabama lawyer helped prepare it.
Source & verification. The rule text, amendment history, and Committee Comments are reproduced verbatim from the
official Alabama Rules of Civil Procedure (Ala. R. Civ. P. 11). Prescribed by the Supreme Court of Alabama (Ala. Const. amend. 328, § 6.11). The plain-English summary is original and written by us. Last verified July 6, 2026. ·
Official source
Also known as: signing pleadings and motionsattorney certification requirementlimited-scope representation alabamaelectronic signature ruleAla. R. Civ. P. 11