How to count the days
How days are counted
Calendar days can include weekends.
Judicial-day rules can treat weekends or court holidays differently.
Behind on rent? Start here.
If you are behind on rent, start with your state. See the notice period, whether paying can stop the case, what happens in court and where to get help.
Find your stateFind your state
4 state guides available.
- Arizona5-day noticeModerate protection rating(provisional)
- Massachusetts14-day noticeStrong protection rating
- Nevada7-day noticeModerate protection rating(provisional)
- Texas3-day noticeMinimal protection rating(provisional)
Your state is not listed yet? Find local legal aid through the Legal Services Corporation.
An eviction usually happens in stages
The steps and timing vary by state. Missing a rent payment does not usually lead to immediate removal.
01
Notice
The landlord gives the notice required by state law. This is not a court order.
02
Court case
If the issue is not resolved, the landlord can ask a court for possession.
03
Judgment
The court hears the case and decides whether the landlord can regain possession.
04
Removal
An authorized officer enforces the court order. A landlord cannot simply skip to this step.
Exact steps and timing depend on state law, service, the court schedule and your case.
What to look for in your notice
A landlord notice and a court summons call for different actions. Photograph every page, keep the envelope and write down when it arrived.
Use this diagram to help read your notice. Notices vary by state and may not include every item shown.
- 1Document type
Is it a landlord notice, a court summons, or something else?
- 2Delivery details
Write down when and how you received it. Keep the envelope and every page.
- 3Deadline or demand
Find the deadline, amount due or action you must take.
- 4Court information
Look for a court name, hearing date or case number. Read court papers as soon as you receive them.
What rental reports can show
Credit report
- Rental-payment information may appear
- Related debt collection may appear
- Credit bureaus can handle rent data differently
Tenant screening report
- Rental history may appear
- Eviction actions or lawsuits may appear
- Credit information may be included
What a future landlord sees depends on the report they use and the information available. An eviction filing and a credit score are different kinds of information.
Get help reading your paperwork
If you have a notice or court paper, contact local legal aid as soon as you can. State guides link to legal help and any rental assistance programs we have verified.
Find legal aid near youRead the laws behind each guide
We check information against state laws, court rules and court-published timelines. Anything we have not checked is marked "Not verified."