Evictions
A notice is a warning. A court order is something else.
Landlords usually start with a notice, and only some go on to court. Each step has a date, and the dates are the part you can still use.
Bring everything you have: the notice, any court papers, the lease, texts and rent receipts. We check how the notice was written and delivered, what the landlord has to prove, and what you can offer. Then we tell you what we would do, and what it costs.
We take cases about
Notices to pay or to leave
Court papers and your answer
Hearings and settlement terms
More time to move, or to pay
Step by step
What we do at each stage
Most cases move through the same three stages. Tell us which one you are in.
- Stage 1
Before court
You have a notice and no court date yet. This is the least expensive time to act.
We read the notice for mistakes
We write back or negotiate
We plan with you if you do have to move
- Stage 2
In court
Papers have been filed. A late answer can cost you the case, so this is where speed matters.
We file your answer on time
We appear with you at each hearing
We ask the judge for more time when it fits
- Stage 3
After a decision
The judge has ruled, or you have reached an agreement that needs to be put in writing.
We negotiate move-out terms
We ask for time where the rules allow it
We read the order before you sign anything
About the papers
Questions about eviction papers
I got a notice. Do I have to leave by the date on it?
Not by itself. In most places a landlord has to go to court and get an order before you can be made to leave, and changing the locks or removing your things is generally not allowed. The date on a notice often marks the earliest a landlord can file. Show us the paper so we can say what yours means.
What if I can pay what is owed?
Tell us. Paying, or offering a payment plan in writing, is often the quickest way to end a case. We help you word the offer and make sure it is recorded.
I missed my court date. Is it over?
Call us right away. A court can sometimes reopen a case when there was a good reason for missing it, but the window is short.
Will this show up when I apply for another place?
It can. Landlords often search court records. Settling before a judgment is entered, when that is possible, can leave less to explain. We will tell you what is realistic in your case.
Got papers with a date on them?
Tell us what the dates are. We'll say what they mean and whether we can take the case.