IL
IntelligentLandlord
EVICTION RESOURCES · ALL 50 STATES

Eviction Resources
& State-by-State Guide

Everything you need to navigate the eviction process — timelines by state, notice requirements, court resources, and step-by-step guidance.

20d
Fastest State
Mississippi
120d
Slowest State
New York
47d
US Average
median timeline
6
Just Cause Required
states + DC

Eviction Speed by State

Select a speed tier to see which states fall in that range. Click a state to visit its full law page.

All States — Eviction Timeline

MS
20d
3d notice
AZ
21d
5d notice
AR
21d
3d notice
TX
21d
3d notice
ID
25d
3d notice
LA
25d
5d notice
MO
25d
3d notice
OK
25d
5d notice
SD
25d
3d notice
WY
25d
3d notice
KS
28d
3d notice
SC
28d
5d notice
AL
30d
7d notice
FL
30d
3d notice
GA
30d
3d notice
IN
30d
10d notice
NE
30d
7d notice
NC
30d
10d notice
ND
30d
3d notice
OH
30d
3d notice
TN
30d
14d notice
UT
30d
3d notice
WV
30d
5d notice
IA
35d
3d notice
KY
35d
7d notice
NV
35d
7d notice
MT
40d
3d notice
WI
40d
5d notice
AK
45d
7d notice
MI
45d
7d notice
NH
45d
7d notice
ME
50d
7d notice
NM
55d
3d notice
VA
55d
5d notice
CO
60d
10d notice
DE
60d
5d notice
HI
60d
5d notice
IL
60d
5d notice
MD
60d
4d notice
MN
60d
14d notice
PA
60d
10d notice
RI
65d
5d notice
VT
70d
14d notice
CT
75d
3d notice
OR
75d
10d notice
CA
90d
3d notice
MA
90d
14d notice
NJ
90d
30d notice
WA
90d
14d notice
NY
120d
14d notice
DC
120d
30d notice

The Eviction Process — Step by Step

A universal overview — always verify your state's specific requirements.

1
📋
Serve Notice
Deliver written notice to tenant per your state's requirements. Non-payment, lease violation, or no-cause depending on state laws.
2
⏱️
Wait Notice Period
Allow the legally required notice period to expire. Tenant may pay, cure the violation, or vacate during this time.
3
⚖️
File Complaint
If tenant hasn't complied, file an eviction complaint at your local court. Attach your lease, notices, and any evidence.
4
📬
Serve Court Papers
The court will serve the tenant with summons. In some states you handle service; in others the court or sheriff does.
5
🏛️
Attend Hearing
Present your case to the judge. Bring all documentation: lease, notices, photos, rent ledger, communications.
6
✅
Get Judgment
If you win, the court issues a judgment for possession. Tenant may have days to appeal depending on your state.
7
🔑
Writ of Possession
If tenant hasn't left, obtain a writ of possession. The sheriff will post notice and enforce removal.
8
🔐
Lockout
Sheriff or marshal executes the writ. You may now legally change locks and take possession of the property.

⛔ Never Do This

Self-help eviction is illegal in all 50 states and exposes you to significant liability.

✗Changing locks without court order
✗Removing tenant's belongings without order
✗Shutting off utilities to force tenant out
✗Threatening or harassing the tenant
✗Entering without proper notice during eviction
✗Refusing to accept rent to create grounds for eviction (in most states)

💡 Pro Tips

Cash-for-keys and strong documentation can save months of time and thousands in legal fees.

Offer cash-for-keys
Paying $500–$2,000 to leave voluntarily is almost always cheaper than a 90-day eviction.
File early, not late
Every week you wait costs money. File immediately after the notice period expires.
Know your judge
Attend local landlord association meetings — experienced landlords know which courts are efficient.
Use an attorney in bad states
In CA, NY, NJ, OR, WA — an eviction attorney pays for itself in time saved.
Keep perfect records
Judges rule on documentation. Photos, emails, texts, ledgers — all of it matters.

Eviction Prevention Playbook

📁Documentation
→Keep a detailed rent ledger from day one
→Document all maintenance requests and your responses
→Save all text messages and emails with tenants
→Photograph the unit at move-in and move-out
→Send all legal notices via certified mail AND email
🛡️Prevention
→Screen tenants thoroughly — credit, criminal, eviction history
→Require a co-signer for borderline applicants
→Conduct quarterly inspections (with proper notice)
→Set up automatic rent collection through a portal
→Enforce lease terms consistently from day one
⚖️Legal Strategy
→Start the process early — delay costs money
→Consult an eviction attorney in tenant-friendly states
→Consider a cash-for-keys offer to avoid court entirely
→File for money judgment alongside possession
→Know your state's specific notice requirements exactly

Local Court Resources by State

Direct links to eviction filing courts in all 50 states and DC.

Alabama
30d
Filing fee: $156–$200
Alabama Courts →Full AL Laws →
Arizona
21d
Filing fee: $35–$220
AZ Justice Courts →Full AZ Laws →
Arkansas
21d
Filing fee: $65–$165
AR District Courts →Full AR Laws →
California
90d
Filing fee: $240–$450
CA Courts Self-Help →Full CA Laws →
Colorado
60d
Filing fee: $85–$224
CO Judicial Branch →Full CO Laws →
Connecticut
75d
Filing fee: $175
CT Judicial →Full CT Laws →
Delaware
60d
Filing fee: $40–$90
DE Justice of the Peace →Full DE Laws →
Florida
30d
Filing fee: $185–$400
FL Courts →Full FL Laws →
Georgia
30d
Filing fee: $60–$120
GA Magistrate Courts →Full GA Laws →
Hawaii
60d
Filing fee: $110–$215
HI District Courts →Full HI Laws →
Idaho
25d
Filing fee: $66–$166
ID Courts →Full ID Laws →
Illinois
60d
Filing fee: $240–$350
IL Courts →Full IL Laws →
Indiana
30d
Filing fee: $86–$120
IN Courts →Full IN Laws →
Iowa
35d
Filing fee: $95
IA Courts →Full IA Laws →
Kansas
28d
Filing fee: $88–$168
KS Courts →Full KS Laws →
Kentucky
35d
Filing fee: $60–$105
KY Courts →Full KY Laws →
Louisiana
25d
Filing fee: $100–$250
LA Parish Courts →Full LA Laws →
Maine
50d
Filing fee: $80–$100
ME Courts →Full ME Laws →
Maryland
60d
Filing fee: $35–$51
MD Courts →Full MD Laws →
Massachusetts
90d
Filing fee: $180–$240
MA Housing Court →Full MA Laws →
Michigan
45d
Filing fee: $45–$150
MI Courts →Full MI Laws →
Minnesota
60d
Filing fee: $285
MN Courts →Full MN Laws →
Mississippi
20d
Filing fee: $60–$140
MS Justice Courts →Full MS Laws →
Missouri
25d
Filing fee: $50–$100
MO Courts →Full MO Laws →
Montana
40d
Filing fee: $30–$100
MT Courts →Full MT Laws →
Nebraska
30d
Filing fee: $45–$76
NE Courts →Full NE Laws →
Nevada
35d
Filing fee: $71–$270
NV Courts →Full NV Laws →
New Hampshire
45d
Filing fee: $90–$155
NH Circuit Courts →Full NH Laws →
New Jersey
90d
Filing fee: $50–$250
NJ Special Civil Part →Full NJ Laws →
New Mexico
55d
Filing fee: $50–$100
NM Courts →Full NM Laws →
New York
120d
Filing fee: $45–$210
NY Housing Courts →Full NY Laws →
North Carolina
30d
Filing fee: $96
NC Small Claims →Full NC Laws →
North Dakota
30d
Filing fee: $80
ND Courts →Full ND Laws →
Ohio
30d
Filing fee: $100–$130
OH Municipal Courts →Full OH Laws →
Oklahoma
25d
Filing fee: $67–$164
OK District Courts →Full OK Laws →
Oregon
75d
Filing fee: $88
OR Courts →Full OR Laws →
Pennsylvania
60d
Filing fee: $96–$250
PA Magisterial District Courts →Full PA Laws →
Rhode Island
65d
Filing fee: $80–$120
RI District Courts →Full RI Laws →
South Carolina
28d
Filing fee: $80–$150
SC Magistrate Courts →Full SC Laws →
South Dakota
25d
Filing fee: $70
SD Magistrate Courts →Full SD Laws →
Tennessee
30d
Filing fee: $80–$180
TN General Sessions Courts →Full TN Laws →
Utah
30d
Filing fee: $75–$185
UT Courts →Full UT Laws →
Vermont
70d
Filing fee: $155
VT Superior Courts →Full VT Laws →
Virginia
55d
Filing fee: $25–$75
VA General District Courts →Full VA Laws →
Washington
90d
Filing fee: $85–$240
WA Courts →Full WA Laws →
Washington D.C.
120d
Filing fee: $15
DC Landlord Tenant Court →Full DC Laws →
West Virginia
30d
Filing fee: $60–$80
WV Magistrate Courts →Full WV Laws →
Wisconsin
40d
Filing fee: $94.50
WI Circuit Courts →Full WI Laws →
Wyoming
25d
Filing fee: $40–$80
WY Circuit Courts →Full WY Laws →