California

Overview Receiving an eviction notice in California can feel overwhelming, but it is only the first step in a legal process—not an automatic removal. Under California law, a landlord must provide a written notice explaining the reason for eviction and the time the tenant has to fix the issue or move out before filing a…

Overview When an eviction judgment (called a Judgment for Possession) is entered in California, it marks a critical turning point in the legal process. The landlord has legally proven the right to regain possession of the property, but the process does not end there. The court’s judgment must be formally enforced through law enforcement, typically…

Overview In California, filing an eviction case—formally known as an Unlawful Detainer action—means asking the Superior Court to legally remove a tenant who refuses to leave after proper notice. This judicial route ensures fairness, documentation, and enforcement through a sheriff rather than personal confrontation. The process transforms a private housing dispute into a court-supervised proceeding…

Overview In California, a landlord cannot evict a tenant without first obtaining a court order. This principle is central to state housing law and ensures that eviction is a judicial—not private—process. Only a judge can issue a writ of possession, which authorizes the sheriff to remove a tenant from the property. Any attempt by a…

Overview In California, landlords must give written notice before ending a tenancy or starting the eviction process. The length and type of notice depend on the reason for termination—such as unpaid rent, violation of lease terms, or no-fault situations like owner move-in or property sale. California’s notice laws balance landlord rights to reclaim property with…

Overview Tenant rights during eviction in California are among the most robust in the United States, blending statutory, procedural, and equitable protections. From the moment a landlord serves a notice to vacate, state law ensures that tenants have the right to receive proper notice, respond in court, attend hearings, request mediation, and seek emergency relief.…

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…