[Druzzle]

I need to know if an attorney can represent an out of state landlord in small claims court

[JudyKayTee]

I am reading they cannot UNLESS there is a compelling reason and the Court gives permisison. I am guessing an out of State landlord would be a compelling reason.

[AK lawyer]

"116.530. (a) Except as permitted by this section, no attorney may
take part in the conduct or defense of a small claims action.
..."

"116.540. (a) Except as permitted by this section, no individual
other than the plaintiff and the defendant may take part in the
conduct or defense of a small claims action.
(b) Except as additionally provided in subdivision (i), a
corporation may appear and participate in a small claims action only
through a regular employee, or a duly appointed or elected officer or
director, who is employed, appointed, or elected for purposes other
than solely representing the corporation in small claims court.
(c) A party who is not a corporation or a natural person may
appear and participate in a small claims action only through a
regular employee, or a duly appointed or elected officer or director,
or in the case of a partnership, a partner, engaged for purposes
other than solely representing the party in small claims court.
(d) If a party is an individual doing business as a sole
proprietorship, the party may appear and participate in a small
claims action by a representative and without personally appearing if
both of the following conditions are met:
(1) The claim can be proved or disputed by evidence of an account
that constitutes a business record as defined in Section 1271 of the
Evidence Code, and there is no other issue of fact in the case.
(2) The representative is a regular employee of the party for
purposes other than solely representing the party in small claims
actions and is qualified to testify to the identity and mode of
preparation of the business record.
...
(g) A defendant who is a nonresident owner of real property may
defend against a claim relating to that property without personally
appearing by (1) submitting written declarations to serve as evidence
supporting his or her defense, (2) allowing another individual to
appear and participate on his or her behalf if that individual is
serving without compensation and has appeared in small claims actions
on behalf of others no more than four times during the calendar
year, or (3) taking the action described in both (1) and (2).
(h) A party who is an owner of rental real property may appear and
participate in a small claims action through a property agent under
contract with the owner to manage the rental of that property, if (1)
the owner has retained the property agent principally to manage the
rental of that property and not principally to represent the owner in
small claims court, and (2) the claim relates to the rental
property....
(m) Nothing in this section shall operate or be construed to
authorize an attorney to participate in a small claims action except
as expressly provided in Section 116.530." CA Codes (ccp:116.510-116.570)