Posts by LegalAtoms

Overview Stopping an eviction in California requires a combination of timely legal action, strong documentation, and strategic use of tenant rights provided under state and local laws. The process moves fast—often within weeks—so self-represented (pro se) tenants must understand both deadlines and defenses. California’s unlawful detainer system is designed for speed, meaning any mistake in…

Overview In California, landlords cannot evict tenants arbitrarily. State law—principally the California Civil Code §§1946–1946.2 and Code of Civil Procedure §§1159–1179a—lists specific legal reasons that justify eviction, called “just causes.” These include failure to pay rent, material breach of lease, creating a nuisance, or the landlord’s intent to move in, substantially remodel, or remove the…

Overview In California, the eviction process—formally called an unlawful detainer—moves faster than most civil lawsuits but still takes several weeks or even months, depending on notice type, tenant response, and county workload. On average, a simple non-payment case with no defenses lasts about six to ten weeks from notice to sheriff lock-out. If the tenant…

Overview In California, an eviction—also called an unlawful detainer—is the legal process a landlord must follow to remove a tenant from a rental property. Unlike informal “self-help” actions (like changing locks or shutting off utilities, which are illegal), eviction in California can only occur after a formal court judgment and a writ of possession issued…