Legal Advice for Landlords Dealing With Eviction

Every state, and in some cases counties or cities, has its own set of eviction laws, and some states may have an eviction moratorium, which helps keep a tenant in the property for the time being, even without paying rent. Your first step should be to understand the current policies and laws that impact your rights and options as a landlord specific to eviction proceedings, and the rights of the tenant as well.

Federal, state and local laws can provide tenants with certain rights that can provide protection for a tenant if their landlord seeks to evict them. Federal eviction protections were put in place for 2020 and many were extended into 2021. Some states and cities have their own temporary eviction moratoriums.

Having access to an eviction lawyer can help you understand the law and the options that are available to you.

It’s now more important than ever to have the help of a landlord-tenant lawyer to make sure the eviction process is done correctly.

Formal eviction is normally the last step in the process a landlord must follow, which can include seeking a court order before they can have a tenant removed. If an eviction claim is filed in court, have evidence, documentation, and any witnesses ready for the hearing. This includes the lease agreement between you and the tenant, bounced checks or other evidence of breach of lease, records of communication between you and the tenant, and proof the tenant received your proper notice(s).

LegalShield members feel confident knowing they have access to legal aid to assist them in matters of landlord-tenant law under their membership. Beyond providing consultation and advice, when appropriate a provider lawyer can make a phone call or write a letter on behalf of your business to a tenant at no additional charge. They can review the lease or other business legal documents of up to 15 pages each.

Depending on the type of business and your state, you may be required to have a lawyer represent the business in court. If the business is the plaintiff, a Small Business Plan provides a preferred member discount of 25% of the provider lawyer’s standard corporate hourly rate. This can not only save you money on legal fees, but can lower your stress by having access to a provider lawyer.