Going to eviction court: what to bring and what to expect

• Read the summons: note the date, time, courtroom and whether you must file a written answer first.
• Make three copies of everything: one for you, one for the other side, one for the judge.
• Arrive early. Many courts check people in and call the calendar at the start of the session.

• The lease and any renewals or rules.
• The notice(s) and the proof(s) of service.
• A rent ledger, receipts, bank statements, money-order stubs.
• Photos and videos (dated), repair requests, inspection reports.
• Texts, emails and letters between landlord and tenant.
• Witnesses who saw what happened, or their signed statements where allowed.

Many courts offer a mediator on the day of the hearing. A settlement can set a payment plan, a move-out date, a mutual release or how the security deposit is handled. Read it carefully before signing: it often becomes a court order.

If the tenant misses the hearing, the landlord usually wins by default. If the landlord misses it, the case is usually dismissed. Either side may be able to ask the court to reopen the case for a good reason, but deadlines are short.