[rarangure]

I am in Phoenix, and am unable to pay the rent. A 5 day notice was posted on my door last month, but I've heard nothing since. I need a pretty definite time frame as to what will happen next and the timing, so I can arrange to move. Any help?

[rockinmommy]

Do you have a written lease? A lot of your answers should be contained in there. Also, there's a link to each state's LL / tenant laws in a "sticky" at the top of this forum.

The time frames vary greatly from state to state.

Can you give the dates that your rent was due, and the dates of the 5 day and any other notices you've received?

The big unknown is WHEN (if) the landlord will actually file for the eviction. When you say you received the 5 day last month I assume you mean after you missed paying your Sept rent on the 1st, so if they've not filed an eviction YET there's no telling what they're up to.

Also, you might want to make a call to your local eviction court. It's usually the Justice of the Peace or Magistrate - often wherever they do small claims court. They can tell you the process, and you might double check that there's not a case or judgement against you already. It's not unheard of for landlord's to come take down service papers after they've been left - before a tenant gets home from work or something. That way the tenant will miss the court date and the LL will get a default judgement.

[LILL]

Honestly, you should have moved during your notice time. I hope you understand fully what an eviction will do to your chances of renting elsewhere.

When I evict a tenant here in NY.. which is a task within itself... I can garnish wages, levy bank accounts and place liens on any property owned now or within the next 10-20 years.

Do you really want to dodge this for the next 10- 20 years?