Ala. Code § 45-26-231.04

The owner of any abandoned or stolen personal property recovered by the Elmore County Sheriffs Department, including firearms, may claim the property at any time prior to its sale by submitting sufficient proof of ownership as determined by the sheriff and by paying any reasonable expenses incurred in the recovery of the property, its maintenance and storage, and a pro rata share of the costs, if any, of publication of notice of the sale of the property.