When execution issues against two or more persons, any of whom were sureties on the contract before the judgment, the sheriff must levy on the property of the principal first, if any can be found in the county, on the application of such surety; and he may require of the surety affidavit of the fact of suretyship, which he must file with the execution.
Ala. Code § 6-9-83 (1975)