Do this today
- Keep the paper. Photograph every page.
- Write the date, time, and how it arrived.
- Look for Dallas County justice court, a case number, or an appearance date.
- If a court is named, call legal aid the same day. Do not guess the deadline.
What were you handed?
| The paper | What it usually is | Do this |
|---|---|---|
| Landlord notice | A step before a court case. Not a judgment, and not a lockout. | Date it. Keep the original. Write down how it arrived. Check whether it offers a chance to fix the problem. |
| Court papers | A case has been filed. A court name, case number, or appearance date is running. | Call legal aid the same day. Do not ignore it. Bring the papers and a timeline of how you received them. |
| Lockout or shutoff | Locks changed, belongings moved, or utilities cut on an occupied unit. | Call 211 and legal aid today. In most states a landlord may not do this personally. Police non-emergency can document it. |
Is a notice in Dallas the same as being evicted?
No. A written landlord notice is a step. Dallas County justice court is where a possession case is heard. Papers that name a court, a case number, or an appearance date mean a case has been filed — that is same-day legal-aid work. No rent board. Code compliance and justice court.
What should I be careful not to do?
Do not ignore court papers. Do not assume a lockout is lawful because a notice looks official. Do not sign a move-out or cash-for-keys paper you have not read with an advocate. Dallas 311 is not a substitute for legal aid once a case is filed.
Is Dallas different from Fort Worth for renters?
Same Texas Property Code. Different code shops and different justice courts. Dallas 311 and Dallas County are the doors for a Dallas address. Do not file a Tarrant County process on a Dallas unit.
The Dallas layer
No rent board. Code compliance and justice court.
Texas Property Code — residential tenancies (Tex. Prop. Code ch. 92) is the Texas floor. We name it. We do not paraphrase a day-count or a dollar cap out of it.
Dallas questions
Can my landlord in Dallas evict me without going to court?
No. Changing locks or shutting off utilities is not how possession is completed. Dallas County justice court is the court. If the paper names it, call legal aid the same day.
How long does an eviction notice last in Dallas?
That number is in Texas Property Code — residential tenancies, and it can depend on the reason, the housing type, and any local ordinance. This site does not reprint it. Open the chapter or call legal aid with the paper in your hand.
Is Dallas different from Fort Worth for renters?
Same Texas Property Code. Different code shops and different justice courts. Dallas 311 and Dallas County are the doors for a Dallas address. Do not file a Tarrant County process on a Dallas unit.
What number should I call in Dallas?
Danger: 911. Mental-health crisis: 988. City services: 311. Court papers: LawHelp.org the same day. Dallas 311 does not replace legal aid when a case is filed.
National answers on this desk
Last reviewed 8 September 2026. Legal information, not legal advice. Not a law firm. hello@renterprotection.org