Evictions
Writing a Notice to Pay or Quit
The single most important document in an eviction. Get it wrong and the case restarts.
Updated January 19, 2026 · 6 min read
The notice must identify the tenant, the property, the amount owed, the deadline to pay, and the consequence of nonpayment. Overstating the amount owed is the most common defect that gets a case dismissed.
Delivery rules vary by state: personal service, substituted service, or posting and mailing. Follow the statute precisely — courts routinely dismiss cases over service errors.