Hayden G. Sizemore, Attorney at Law, LLC

01/17/2026

Legal issues belong in the courtroom — not on the street. There is a lot of misinformation circulating online about identification requirements. This post is purely informational.

Birth Certificates
If you were born in Alabama, you may obtain a certified copy of your birth certificate from any county health department, regardless of where you were born in state. Requests can also be made online through the Alabama Department of Public Health.

Driver’s Licenses & State ID
If you need a non-driver identification card, a driver’s license, or believe you may qualify for a hardship license due to a suspension, you should contact the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) (formerly Public Safety). Many Alabama drivers are also eligible to renew licenses online through ALEA’s website.

Additional Government-Issued Identification
Individuals seeking an additional form of government-issued ID may qualify for a pistol permit, even if they do not carry a firearm. Permits are issued through your county Sheriff’s Department, and many applications are available online. Honorably discharged military veterans and certain law enforcement officers may be eligible for permits at no cost.

Passports
Passport services are available at various locations, including select post offices and some circuit clerk’s offices. A certified birth certificate and additional identification are required.

Bottom line:
Don’t put yourself in a situation that proper, valid identification could have prevented or resolved. This post is not intended to debate immigration law, constitutional carry, or sovereign citizenship theories — it is simply meant to provide general information.

01/14/2026

Verizon is currently experiencing an outage and that is my business phone carrier. While service is disrupted, I can be reached at: [email protected]

01/07/2026

⚖️ Hayden G. Sizemore, Attorney at Law, LLC provides legal representation tailored to the facts and circumstances of each individual case.

📅 By appointment only.
Consultations and services require prior scheduling.

📞 334-557-0500
📧 [email protected]
🌐 hsizemorelaw.com

No representation is made regarding the quality, outcome, or results of any legal services.

01/05/2026

Use of force isn’t about headlines — it’s about reasonableness in real time.

This article looks at high-profile cases and the limits of judging human performance under stress.

The law is inconsistent.
Science can’t recreate the moment.
Training is where improvement actually happens.

Law enforcement use of force is one of the most scrutinized issues in modern policing.Public debate often moves faster than the law, and officers are frequently judged in real time through news cli…

01/05/2026

Effective January 1, 2026, pursuant to the modification of Rule 7.2, Alabama Rules of Professional Conduct, the following information is provided:

✉️ Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 242101, Montgomery, AL 36124

📍 Office Location:
114 S. Main Street, Wetumpka, AL 36092

📧 Email:
[email protected]

☎️ Phone:
334.557.0500

🛜 Website:
hsizemorelaw.com

⚖️ Licensure:
• State of Alabama (2020)
• U.S. District Court, Middle District of Alabama (2020)
• U.S. District Court, Southern District of Alabama (2025)

📁 Primary Practice Areas:
• Criminal defense (adults & juveniles)
• Juvenile dependency
• Guardian ad Litem (juvenile dependency)
• Appellate proceedings (direct appeals & extraordinary writs)

📁 Additional Practice Areas:
• Administrative proceedings (employee discipline)
• Law enforcement use-of-force reviews & §1983 oversight
• Probate (guardianships, conservatorships, adoptions)
• Uncontested divorce

🤞 All listed matters are handled personally by Hayden Glass Sizemore and are not referred out. If a matter falls outside my practice areas, I’m happy to assist in locating appropriate counsel. Any referral fee arrangement—where permitted—will always be fully disclosed.

01/01/2026

As we head into a new year, I want to take a moment to be transparent.

For the last five years, I’ve worked hard to be available, to meet every need, and to do the best I can for every client. That commitment is not changing.

What is changing is how availability is defined.

Over time, that level of access has created unrealistic expectations and, at times, blurred necessary boundaries. Going forward, I am recommitting to a healthier work-life balance — one that allows me to continue providing high-quality legal work without being “on” 24/7.

Yes, I work weekends.
Yes, I often file motions after hours.
Yes, I work remotely, use my iPhone for efficiency, and may respond quickly at times.

But that does not mean I am available at all hours, on demand, or during every weekend, holiday, vacation, or personal event. Every case matters and is taken seriously — but no case is entitled to every minute of my life.

In 2026, I will continue to advocate fiercely for my clients and live my life.

To support this transition:
• New office policies are now published on my website
• A new phone system is live
• Case updates will be sent out over the next week

Thank you to those who’ve trusted me and the process. I wish everyone a safe and happy New Year.

— Hayden

12/30/2025

🚨 Appealing a Guilty Plea: What People Get Wrong 🚨

This comes up constantly, so let’s clear it up.

👉 When you plead guilty, you are expressly waiving your right to appeal.
You do not get to plead guilty and then appeal because:
• you don’t like your sentence
• you changed your mind
• you regret the decision
• or for any other frivolous reason

There are very limited workarounds, and they are technical:

✔️ Issues must be reserved at the time of the plea
For example: an illegal search or suppression issue that is explicitly preserved on the record.

✔️ If no issues were reserved, a motion to withdraw the guilty plea must be filed within 30 days of sentencing.

✔️ If a motion to withdraw is denied (either by written order or by operation of law when the judge doesn’t rule within 60 days), an appeal may technically proceed — but there are usually no viable issues to argue.

⚠️ Important consequence:
If the motion to withdraw is granted, the case goes back to square one:
• the case proceeds to trial
• any counts dismissed as part of the plea are reinstated

📌 Translation: this is not a “free do-over.”

And here’s the part people really don’t understand 👇
Even if the requirements aren’t met, your “appeal” may still get docketed — but it will be dismissed once it reaches the appellate court under longstanding Alabama law. See Williams v. State, 854 So. 2d 625 (Ala. Crim. App. 2003).

🧠 Bottom line:
Guilty pleas are easy to enter and very hard to undo.
Before pleading, you should:
• fully explore all pretrial issues
• ask every question you have
• understand exactly what rights you are giving up
• make sure your attorney has explained all of this before you have a colloquy with the judge

Once you plead guilty, the door to appeal is almost always closed.

⚖️ Know what you’re doing before you say “guilty.”

12/30/2025

AI can generate an image — like this photo.

But when it comes to legal advice, you need a trusted attorney with real experience.

✔️ 5 years practicing law
✔️ Licensed in Alabama
✔️ Admitted in the U.S. District Courts for the Middle & Southern Districts of Alabama

12/30/2025

12/23/2025

Celebrate whatever you want. 🎄
Don’t do anything stupid.

Judges won’t be available.
Consequences will be.

If you need me because you ignored this advice, I’ll make you an appointment after the holidays. 💁🏼‍♀️✨

12/19/2025

Holiday Hours Notice 🎄

As of today, my office is operating on holiday hours. I will have limited in-office availability through January 5, 2026.

Please note: the answering service cannot provide legal advice, access client information, or pull court records. Messages will be reviewed and calls returned within a reasonable time, but I do not anticipate scheduling in-office appointments unless there is a truly time-sensitive necessity.

Governor Ivey has announced that all State offices will be closed December 24, 25, and 26. Most counties and municipalities follow the State’s schedule. Courts and state agencies will be closed.

With that in mind: please do not call me on Christmas. This happens every year, and I want to be clear—there is nothing I can do when courts are closed. If there is an actual emergency, contact law enforcement.

Thank you for your understanding, and I wish everyone a safe and happy holiday season.

—
Hayden G. Sizemore, Attorney at Law

12/14/2025

Christmas on the Coosa energy 🎄🦖
T-Rex spotted downtown.