In Alabama and most other states, a landlord cannot evict a tenant without going through court procedures. Landlords cannot take matters into their own hands through “self-help” evictions, or by physically entering the leased property and removing the tenant through the use of a reasonable amount of force.
However, the parties may negotiate a settlement out of court, as long as it is in writing and signed by both the landlord and tenant. To ensure that the settlement is legally binding and to avoid future litigation on the matter, it is still advisable to go to court with the settlement.