In Alabama, how many years from the stipulated maturity date is a mortgage deemed satisfied if no satisfaction is recorded?

In Alabama, if a mortgage is not recorded as satisfied after the stipulated maturity date, it is deemed satisfied after a period of 20 years. This legal provision helps to protect borrowers and ensure that they are not perpetually bound by a mortgage that has matured but has not had the required formalities completed. It provides a clear timeline after which the mortgage is treated as satisfied, alleviating potential burdens on the property owner related to old debts that have not been addressed in the public records. This is particularly important for real estate transactions, as it helps maintain an accurate and current understanding of property encumbrances.