Landlords: Two Important Eviction Court Dates
Questions About Eviction Court Dates?
Knowing and keeping eviction court dates are vital to a landlord’s successful eviction case.
Eviction Court Dates Landlords Need to Know
Let’s be honest, no one wants to go through an eviction. Certainly not a tenant who will have to search for a new place to live. Landlords don’t want to file an eviction either.
As a landlord, you like to think your screening process would weed out an unsuitable tenant. Reletting an apartment usually costs money. You’ll have to pay for clean-up after an old tenant and advertise for a new one. Not to mention the time it takes to evict a tenant who may have already stopped paying rent.
Eviction Court Dates: The Return Appearance
When pursuing an eviction, there are usually two important court dates to keep in mind. The first court date would be a return appearance.
The return appearance can confuse landlords a little bit. So, what is a return appearance? It’s basically the deadline for a tenant to file an answer to your eviction notice. Essentially, this is the deadline for the tenant to say whether they plan to contest the eviction.
This Process Can Be Virtual
In the past, the court required the return appearances to be in person. Either the landlord or the landlord’s representative would be required to go meet with the tenant at the courthouse.
Now, during COVID, the return appearance is more likely to be virtual. In the case of the landlord, you may not have to appear at all. The court is also a bit more flexible in terms of timing. Some courts treat the return appearance as a bit of a soft deadline. That gives the tenant a little bit more time to provide an answer to your eviction complaint.
Eviction Court Dates: The Evidentiary Hearing
The second important court date is the evidentiary hearing. The evidentiary hearing is much what it sounds like. This is the time you show proof that the tenant has failed to pay the rent or has damaged your property in some way.
Our Eviction Attorneys Can Help
Robinson & Henry has a number of attorneys who specialize in eviction. They can help you through the ins-and-outs of landlord-tenant relations and eviction law.
Our firm offers a initial case assessment. During this meeting, you and an attorney will discuss the facts about your case, timelines, cost, and more. You can schedule this meeting with you call 303-688-0944 or click here to set it up online.