Can my landlord change the locks or remove my things?

Key takeaways

• A landlord notice is usually a step, not an eviction.
• Court papers name a court, a case number, or an appearance date.
• Deadlines live in your state chapter. This desk does not invent them.

Do this today

1. Keep the original. Photograph every page, including envelopes and posting.
2. Write the date, time, and how it arrived.
3. If a court is named, call legal aid the same day.

What this page is not

• Not a deadline calculator.
• Not legal advice, and not a law firm.
• Not a substitute for the official chapter or legal aid.

Confirm it locally

Caps, clocks, and entry hours live in your state chapter. Search below, or take the paper to legal aid if a court is named.

Terms on this page

Legal aid · Lockout

People also ask

• Is a landlord notice the same as being evicted?
• Is an eviction notice the same as being evicted?
• What happens if I do nothing?
• Will an eviction filing show up on my record?
• Do I need a lawyer?
• Does an eviction notice work the same in every state?

Official sources

• LawHelp.orgFree legal aid by state. Start here for court papers.
• HUD tenant rightsFederal floor and state HUD pages.
• Cornell LII landlord-tenant tableIndex of official state chapters. We name the chapter; we do not paraphrase a number out of it.
• 211Local rent, shelter, food, and utilities, in many languages.