I received an eviction notice. What do I do?
Finding an eviction notice on your front door isn't exactly a welcome home. If you've received an eviction notice, you first need to figure out what kind of “eviction notice” it is. The notice may either be directly from your landlord, from a court, or from a sherrif. The difference is important.
If the eviction notice is from your landlord, it will likely demand you to either pay any unpaid rent within a few days or move out of the unit. In most states, the period to either “pay rent or quit” is 3 or 5 days long. If you fail to do either, your landlord may file his or her eviction lawsuit in court.
If the eviction notice is from the court, it is probably a summons notifying you that your landlord has filed an eviction lawsuit. However, you will have a chance to defend yourself in court.
If the notice is from the sheriff's office, it is probably an order to vacate by a certain date. If you don't, a sheriff can come by and physically remove you from the premises.
You should contact a lawyer if you get any of these kinds of eviction notices. Remember, you ultimately have the right to defend yourself in court – so if you haven’t been given that opportunity yet, a lawyer may be able to get the notice set aside and advise you of what legal options are available for your situation.
For more information on eviction, contact a landlord tenant attorney today.
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