The Eviction Process, Step by Step
Notice, filing, judgment, and lockout — how the process actually runs in most states.
Eviction is a court process. In every state, self-help — changing locks, removing belongings, shutting off utilities — is illegal and exposes you to damages far larger than the unpaid rent.
1. Written notice
The tenancy must be terminated by written notice: pay-or-quit for nonpayment, cure-or-quit for lease violations, or an unconditional quit notice in narrower circumstances. The notice period is set by state statute.
2. Court filing
If the tenant does not pay or cure, you file an unlawful detainer / summary process action in the appropriate court. The tenant is served, files an answer, and the case is set for a hearing — often within 2 to 6 weeks.
3. Judgment and lockout
If you prevail, the court issues a judgment for possession and, separately, a money judgment. The sheriff or marshal — not you — executes the lockout.