Landlords can begin by drafting an eviction notice to be served on the tenant. The type of notice given to the tenant will vary depending on the nature of the eviction.

• 7-Day Notice to Quit for Non-Payment
• 7-Day Notice to Quit for Non-Compliance
• 30-Day Notice to Terminate Month-to-Month Lease

A Forcible Entry and Detainer Information Sheet and Mediation Request (CV-256) must also be completed and delivered with the notice.

The landlord must make three good-faith efforts to hand-deliver the documents to the tenant.

If they are unsuccessful, the documents must be sent by first-class mail to the tenant’s last known address with a copy left at the tenant’s usual place of residence.

If the tenant doesn’t comply with the eviction notice within the designated notice period, the landlord can proceed by drafting a Complaint for Forcible Entry and Detainer (CV-007) and obtaining a Forcible Entry and Detainer Summons (CV-034) for each tenant being evicted.

The Summons is purchased from the local Clerk of the District Court, who will also schedule a hearing date for the case.

The landlord must arrange to have the sheriff’s department serve the tenant with a copy of the Complaint and the original Summons forms and provide the landlord with proof of service 14 days before the hearing.

At least one business day before the eviction hearing, the landlord must complete an Affidavit of Service (CV-204) and file it with the court, along with the proof of service, Complaint, and Summons.

If the tenant disagrees with the allegations made against them by the landlord, they can file an Answer that allows them to state the reasons why the eviction is unlawful. The original Answer must be filed with the court and a copy must be sent by mail to the landlord.

Both parties must attend the court hearing to defend their cases. If the tenant fails to appear, a default judgment may be entered in the landlord’s favor.

The court will review the evidence presented by both parties before issuing a judgment. If the landlord prevails, the tenant will be ordered to vacate the premises within a specific number of days.

If the tenant doesn’t vacate the property or appeal the court’s decision before the move-out date, the landlord must file a Request for Issuance of Writ of Possession (CV-195) to request the sheriff’s department to remove the tenant from the property.