what kind of lawyer handles illegal evictions

by Lawrence Greenholt 5 min read

What court handles eviction?

Feb 11, 2021 · Wrongful eviction is when the landlord does not follow landlord-tenant laws and resorts to self-help evicitions. If you're unlawfully evicted, get a free real estate lawyer match today. Take advantage of LegalMatch's online services to find a lawyer near you or give us a call now at (415) 946-3744.

How can an eviction attorney help?

Eviction Lawyers. Eviction lawyers represent either the landlord/property owner, or the tenant during the eviction process. Landlords typically like to hire eviction lawyers because they help ensure the specific eviction requirements, such as notice and …

Do I need a lawer to handle an eviction?

Feb 12, 2018 · Selected as best answer. You should hire a local landlord/tenant attorney. You would be evicting your son via RPAPL 713 (7) most likely. This provision is not very well known by attorneys who do not generally practice L&T law, so make sure you bring it up in any consultation.

How to find a landlord eviction attorney?

Know What Types of Evictions Are Illegal. Landlords cannot circumvent the termination and eviction process by taking the law into their own hands—for example, by changing a tenant's locks. Kicking a tenant out of a rental through means other than the procedures laid out in state law is known as a "self-help eviction."

What is an illegal eviction in California?

An illegal eviction in California is when your landlord changes the locks to get you to leave or forces you out. In either scenario, it is within your right to call the police.Feb 18, 2020

What is an illegal eviction in Texas?

Read More. A wrongful eviction occurs when a landlord or an owner evicts a tenant improperly without following the procedures set forth in the Texas property code. An example of that would be where a landlord or an owner changes the locks, or otherwise extricates the tenant from the property.Nov 9, 2016

Can a landlord evict you immediately in Texas?

Eviction proceedings do not mean that a tenant will immediately be removed from their home. There are many steps in the eviction process that each take a certain amount of time. Until a writ of possession is issued, the tenant can remain in their home.Mar 23, 2022

How soon can you evict a tenant for nonpayment in Texas?

Timing of Eviction Notices for Failure to Pay Rent in Texas § 92.019), a landlord must provide at least a two-day grace period before charging a tenant late fee. But under state law, there is no grace period before a landlord can give a tenant notice to vacate for failure to pay rent.

What to do if tenant is evicted?

If the tenant has good reason to defend against the eviction notice, then they should hire a qualified attorney to argue on their behalf in court. This can help ensure a more successful outcome due to the legal procedures involved and certain evidence that the tenant may not know to gather themselves.

Why would a landlord want to evict a tenant?

There are many different reasons for why the landlord may want to evict a tenant from a rental property, including: If the tenant has breached the terms of their lease or rental agreement (e.g., smoking in a non-smoking building or keeping pets despite no-pet conditions in the lease); and.

What happens when you file an eviction notice?

Once the eviction notice is filed with a local court, then the clerk will send a summons to the tenant and also provide the landlord with a court date for a hearing. At this stage, both the landlord and the tenant should be collecting evidence to support their arguments for and against the eviction at the hearing.

What to do if tenant forgot to pay rent?

If the tenant simply forgot to pay rent or is now in a situation where they are able to pay it, then the tenant should alert the landlord and make the payments.

Can you stop an eviction?

A tenant can also stop an eviction if they have a valid legal defense against the claim.

How to fight an eviction?

The simplest way to fight an eviction is to adhere to the terms of the rental agreement.

What are the laws regarding evictions?

As noted above, eviction laws vary by state and city. However, laws generally prohibit certain types of evictions, including self-help evictions and retaliatory evictions. Self-help evictions occur when a landlord retains the rental property without use of the evictions process.

What does a landlord do when evicting a tenant?

The landlord files a complaint, which outlines the circumstances for eviction and may request back rent and/or damages. The landlord must serve the tenant with the complaint and a summons, which informs the tenant a lawsuit has been filed.

What is eviction in a rental?

Eviction refers to a legal process in which a court orders the removal of a tenant from a rented apartment or home at the request of the landlord. The landlord must have justification for requesting eviction. There are many reasons a landlord may wish to evict a tenant from a rental property. These can include:

What is a pay or quit notice?

Pay or quit; Cure or quit; and. Unconditional quit. A pay or quit notice is provided when a tenant has not paid rent. The landlord puts the tenant on notice that if they do not pay the rent, they will be required to leave. A cure or quit notice is provided when a tenant has violated a term of the lease.

Can a landlord evict a tenant without reason?

Prior to going to court and requesting an eviction, a landlord must terminate the tenancy. In most cases, this can be done with or without reason, unless the property is regulated by rent control ordinance. Landlords of rentals of this type must have a reason to evict the tenant.

What happens if a tenant does not respond to a landlord's complaint?

If the tenant does not respond, or answer, the landlord’s complaint, the court will issue a default judgment for the landlord. Should the court rule in favor of the landlord, the tenant must vacate the property if so ordered.

Evictions and Unlawful Detainers

Evictions, known as “unlawful detainers” in some locations, serve the purpose of removing a tenant or tenants from a rented space. A landlord will pursue this action only after a tenant materially breaches a rental agreement, both parties can't reach an agreement, and the tenant refuses to vacate the property.

Eviction Lawyers

Eviction lawyers represent either the landlord/property owner, or the tenant during the eviction process. Landlords typically like to hire eviction lawyers because they help ensure the specific eviction requirements, such as notice and court filings, are properly provided and filed.

When to Hire an Eviction Lawyer

If you're a tenant the best time to hire an eviction lawyer is right after you believe your landlord has either abused his or her power, or is in material breach of your lease agreement.

Peter McGrath

You should hire a local landlord/tenant attorney. You would be evicting your son via RPAPL 713 (7) most likely. This provision is not very well known by attorneys who do not generally practice L&T law, so make sure you bring it up in any consultation.

Peter J Weinman

Evicting a family member is never fun, sorry to hear you need to do this. Any Landlord/Tenant (L&T) attorney should be able to assist. Click the "find a lawyer" link on top of this page and search for one in your county. Good luck.

Can a landlord evict a tenant?

Before a landlord can evict a tenant, the landlord must have legally terminated (ended) the tenancy. Each state has its own termination procedures that detail how landlords must write and serve (deliver) termination notices. Most of the time, the type of notice the landlord must serve depends on the landlord's reason for ending the termination. ...

Can you sue your landlord for evicting you?

You can sue your landlord for illegally trying to evict you —but you need both the law and the facts to be in your favor to fight and win. If you lose, you could end up hundreds (even thousands) of dollars in debt and face a negative credit rating.

Is it illegal to evict a tenant?

It is also illegal in most states for landlords to evict tenants for a retaliatory reason —for example, because you exercised a legal right, such as complaining to a health inspector about unsafe conditions in your rental unit. For the variety of legal grounds (or defenses) you might have to fight an eviction in your state—such as your landlord's ...

Can a landlord circumvent the eviction process?

Landlords cannot circumvent the termination and eviction process by taking the law into their own hands—for example, by changing a tenant's locks. Kicking a tenant out of a rental through means other than the procedures laid out in state law is known as a "self-help eviction."

What can a landlord/tenant lawyer do?

A landlord/tenant lawyer can help you win an eviction lawsuit, steer clear of liability, and collect or return a security deposit. Whether you are a landlord drawing up a lease or a renter trying to get back your security deposit, an attorney can assist in cases of all types, especially those involving illegal discrimination, property damage, ...

What is a tenant lawyer?

On the other hand, a landlord / tenant lawyer also helps landlords who have tenants breaking rules, such as moving out three months early or refusing to pay rent. Tenant eviction laws are very specific, with different rules in each city.

What to do if landlord evicts you?

Landlords must follow eviction procedures set forth by state and local law. If your landlord tries to evict you by taking matters into his own hands—for example, by locking you out, canceling your utilities, or even removing your doors, windows, or possessions—consider hiring a lawyer.

What to do if landlord discriminates against you?

If you believe your landlord is discriminating against you, you may need a lawyer to stop the illegal actions and help you recover damages for any harm you suffered. One option is to hire a lawyer to sue the landlord in court.

What to do if landlord serves termination notice?

If your landlord serves you with a termination notice that you intend to fight, hiring a lawyer can increase your chance of success. Choose a local lawyer that is knowledgeable about landlord-tenant law and has significant experience fighting evictions.

What happens if you don't have renters insurance?

If you have renter's insurance, your insurance company will cover the loss and its lawyers will then seek reimbursement from your landlord. If you don't have insurance or have inadequate coverage and the damage to your property is substantial, consider hiring a lawyer to help you obtain reimbursement from your landlord.

What is tenant rights?

The more you know the law and your legal rights, the better. The Tenant Rights section of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) website provides a wide variety of state and local resources, including links to fair housing groups, rent control boards, tenant unions, and legal aid organizations for each state ;

What happens if your landlord doesn't fulfill your lease?

If your landlord isn't fulfilling important obligations under your lease and the law, it can lead to major problems. For example, think of the landlord who keeps putting off needed heating system repairs until winter is well under way, or the landlord who ignores a ground-floor tenant's requests to fix a broken window until a burglary occurs.

What happens if a landlord doesn't maintain the property?

Sometimes, a landlord's failure to maintain the rental property causes damage to your personal property. For example, a landlord's faulty wiring repair job could spark an electrical fire in your living room, damaging your furniture and other belongings.

What is a landlord tenant attorney?

A landlord tenant attorney is one who specializes in the legal issues surrounding landlord and tenant rights and is a valuable resource for you when you need it most. Legal expertise can guide even the most prepared landlord through the challenges of managing your rental property.

What to do if landlord tenant attorney is not doing the job you expect?

If your landlord tenant attorney is not doing the kind of job you expect, don’t hesitate to seek out another one that may be a better fit. Whether the attorney is too hard to get ahold of or your personalities just don’t mesh, don’t get stuck with someone who is not meeting your needs one way or another.

Should I use an attorney to write a lease agreement?

It’s a wise idea to use an attorney to write your lease agreement so that it covers all your rights and stays compliant with local, state and federal law. Rather than download a generic lease agreement from the internet, work with the attorney to draft an agreement that specifically reflects your property and your expectations from a tenant.

What can an estate attorney do?

An estate attorney may also help clients build a trust fund, especially for minor beneficiaries. They may also prepare the documents that will enumerate and outline their client’s final wishes, including medical and burial arrangements. 4. Personal Injury Lawyers.

What is a real estate lawyer?

Real estate lawyers provide legal guidance for individuals or companies seeking to buy or sell a property. They work with their clients and the real estate agents to draft documents and ensure that the paperwork is legally binding. They may also negotiate for the buyer or seller, or represent a property owner during a foreclosure dispute.

Why do we need malpractice lawyers?

Since these are professions that ascribe to a set of standards , they have greater professional responsibilities that may be challenged in the courtroom or in litigation.

What is IP law?

1. Intellectual Property (IP) Lawyers. Any original creative, scientific, or technical invention which may benefit the public has to be protected ...

What is an intellectual property lawyer?

Any original creative, scientific, or technical invention which may benefit the public has to be protected from copycats and duplicates. If you've created an art design, a unique product, a novel, a song or a computer program, you can consult with an intellectual property lawyer for securing copyright, patents, trademarks, and licensing agreements.

What is a family lawyer?

Family Lawyers. These are lawyers who handle all kinds of domestic cases, such as divorce, legal separation, child custody, adoption, paternity, alimony, prenuptial or postnuptial agreements, and emancipation. But family attorneys may also handle reproductive rights cases, and their work may intersect with other areas of the law.

What is a personal injury lawyer?

This lawyer is an expert in tort law, which deals with civil legal liabilities and damages.