2023 Code of Alabama › Title 13A - Criminal Code. › Chapter 8 - Offenses Involving Theft. › Article 7 - Theft by Fraudulent Leasing or Rental of Property. › Section 13A-8-142 - Written Demand for Return of Leased Property; Form of Notice.

Section 13A-8-142
Written demand for return of leased property; form of notice.
For the purposes of Section 13A-8-141 of this article:
(1) A written demand for the return of leased property may be made by personally delivering a copy thereof to the lessee; such demand may also be delivered to a lessee by certified United States mail, directed to lessee at his address shown on the rental contract, and the return receipt shall be deemed sufficient evidence that the demand was received by the lessee, on the date shown on the receipt.
(2) The form of notice to be given under subdivision (1) of Section 13A-8-141 shall be sufficient if substantially as follows:
"This statutory notice is provided pursuant to Section _____ of the Code of Alabama. You are hereby notified that the name or address given by you, as lessee, and appearing on the rental contract dated _____, wherein _____ is the lessor, was fictitious or false. Pursuant to Alabama law you have seven (7) days from receipt of this demand to return the property rented or leased under the said rental contract to the lessor at the place designated in the rental contract, and to pay all accrued lease or rental charges. Unless the said property is so returned, and accrued rental charges paid, all as provided by the said rental contract, within the time specified above, the lessor may assume that you leased the said property with intent, knowledge or expectation that you, as the lessee would not perform the terms, covenants and agreements appearing in the said rental contract at the time you executed the same, and, therefore that you intended to defraud the lessor. In such case the lessor may turn over the rental contract and all other available information relating to this incident to the proper authorities for criminal prosecution."
(3) The form of notice to be given under subdivision (2) of Section 13A-8-141 above shall be sufficient if substantially as follows:
"This statutory notice is provided pursuant to Section _____ of the Code of Alabama. You are hereby notified that you have failed to return that certain personal property leased by you under a written rental contract dated _____, wherein _____ is the lessor, to the particular place or at the particular time provided by the said rental contract. Pursuant to Alabama law, you have forty-eight (48) hours from the receipt of this demand to return the leased property to the lessor at the address specified in the rental contract. Unless the said property is returned to the lessor at the address specified in the rental contract within the time specified above, the lessor may assume that at the time you entered into the said rental contract you intended, knew or expected that you would not perform the terms, covenants and agreements of the lessee thereunder, and that you intended to defraud the lessor. In such case the lessor may turn over the rental contract and all other available information relating to this incident to the proper authorities for criminal prosecution."
(Acts 1986, No. 86-392, p. 576, §3.)