Eviction is not as easy as commanding someone to leave. It involves a legal process that must be followed to ensure the rights of both the landlord and the tenant are protected at every stage. Below, civil litigation and family law attorney Paul Lenkowsky of the Law Offices of Paul Lenkowsky in Bullhead City, AZ, discusses the four steps of the eviction process in The Grand Canyon State.

The 4 Steps of the Eviction Process: Insights From a Civil Litigation & Family Law Attorney

1. Serve the Tenant With a Written Notice

Once the terms of the lease have been violated, the landlord must serve the tenant with a written notice. The notice should include the tenant's name, the lease clause they have violated, and how long they have before they need to be completely moved out of the premises. If a tenant does not leave by the stated date, the landlord may initiate the legal components of the eviction process.

2. File a Legal Complaint

Next, the landlord must go to the courthouse of the county where the rental property is located. They have to file a formal, legal complaint, which is essentially a lawsuit in which the landlord sues the tenant. In Arizona, this is called a special detainer action.

3. Receive a Summons

Once the lawsuit is accepted by the courts, the tenant will receive a summons. The summons will contain crucial information about the tenant's rights and responsibilities as well as where and when the hearing will take place. If the tenant plans to defend themselves against the eviction, then they must appear in court at the appointed time and location.

4. Attend the Hearing

Finally, both the landlord and tenant attend the hearing. Here, both sides will present their respective cases to the judge. The judge will deliberate and hand down a verdict, and both parties must agree to comply with the terms of the judgment, regardless of whether it favors their position or not.

If you are facing an imminent eviction or you are a landlord who needs to take legal action against a tenant, let the Law Offices of Paul Lenkowsky fight for you. Since 1985, Attorney Lenkowsky and his team have served clients throughout Bullhead City and Mohave County in eviction, family law, misdemeanor criminal defense, and personal injury auto cases. Call (928) 758-4815, visit them online, or contact them on Facebook to make an appointment today.