An “Unlawful Detainer” or “Court Summons”

This is urgent

If you received an “Unlawful Detainer” or “Summons”, this is the start of a formal eviction process. Your landlord filed paperwork at the courthouse. You must file an “answer” at the courthouse within 5 days of getting the notice. This excludes Judicial holidays and weekends. If you do not respond, the landlord may automatically win the case against you and evict you. Only a sheriff can perform an eviction. You must pay a $225 filing fee to respond to the Unlawful Detainer, but you can request a fee waiver at the courthouse based on income.

Just because an Unlawful Detainer was filed does not mean your landlord has a legitimate case against you, even if your landlord has a lawyer. It is important to get the help of a tenants’ rights attorney by calling or visiting one of these places: