Eviction

How to fill out Eviction forms

Read all Eviction instructions BEFORE filing out your form. The form contains both the complaint and the summons. Read the instructions carefully as filing time limits in cases of Eviction are very short.

Once you have read all the relevant instructions, fill in all the fields in the complaint and summons form that you can access. You will not be able to type information into those parts of the form reserved for the defendant and court staff.

Print out three completed copies of the form and bring them to the appropriate court with your fee. You also may bring ONE completed form and have the court make four copies for you. However, you will be charged a copy fee if you ask court staff to copy your forms for you.

NOTE: You cannot save completed forms to your computer's hard drive. If you want to clear the entire form to start over, click on the reset tab at the top of the page.

Eviction actions seek the eviction of the tenant and the repossession of the rental property. They may also be filed if the tenant misrepresented information to the landlord or has unauthorized occupants in the residence.

Eviction Forms

Complaint & Summons Instructions

Summons Complaint

Residential Eviction Information Sheet (REIS)

Eviction Complaint (unlawful ouster)

Defendant Procedures

Motion to Compel Satisfaction of Judgment

Satisfaction of Judgment

Eviction Actions

Most eviction actions involve an allegation that the tenant has not paid rent on time. If a tenant fails to pay rent, the landlord can give notice that he will terminate the lease if the rent is not paid within five days. After the 5-day notice, the landlord will most likely not be willing to accept partial payment because he will not be able to proceed with the case unless the tenant agrees in writing that the landlord can do so.

On day six, the landlord can file suit. The tenant's inability to pay the rent is not a legal defense to the lawsuit. However, the tenant does have some options. The tenant can pay all of the rent and any late fees any time before the lawsuit is filed and avoid eviction. If the eviction action has been filed, then the tenant must pay all past due rent, late fees, attorney's fees and court costs. If the tenant does so before a judgment is entered, he can avoid eviction. After a judgment has been entered, reinstatement of the lease is solely in the landlord's discretion.

As a general rule, the only defense to an allegation of nonpayment of rent is that the rent was actually paid, in the manner and in the amount provided in the lease.

Eviction Trials

Eviction cases are similar to other kinds of lawsuits; however, they move through the court system very quickly. A trial will occur on the date listed on the summons. However, if the tenant fails to appear, and the landlord or his attorney is present, then a judgment will most likely be entered against the tenant.

At the date and time listed on the summons, the justice of the peace will start calling cases. If both parties are there, the judge will ask the tenant whether the complaint is true. If the tenant says that the complaint is untrue, then the tenant will need to briefly tell the judge why. If the reason appears to be a legal defense, then the judge will need to take testimony from both sides and make a decision after a trial. If either side needs a delay, they may request it, but continuances will be granted for no more than three business days. A tenant can avoid the hassle, expense, and embarrassment associated with a writ of restitution by turning in the keys to the landlord. Doing so ends the tenant's possession of the residence.

Eviction Appeals

A tenant may appeal an eviction (forcible detainer) judgment to the Superior Court. Within five days from the date of the judgment, the tenant must do the following.

• File a Notice of Appeal

• File a Designation of Record

• Pay an appeal fee or file a request for a waiver of that fee

• In some cases, post a cost bond or file an affidavit in lieu of that bond.

Supersedeas Bonds

If the tenant wants to stop the execution of the judgment and/or the eviction process, then he must also file a supersedeas bond. Find out more.