California Tenant Question Library
Is a Landlord's Notice the Same as a Court-Ordered Eviction?
Short answer
No. A notice comes from your landlord and is a demand. A court-ordered eviction happens only after a judgment for possession — the court's ruling, or a jury's determination in a jury trial — following a lawsuit.
A landlord's notice — like a 3-day notice — is a demand from the landlord. It is the first step, not the end.
A judgment for possession, by contrast, is the court's ruling — or a jury's determination in a jury trial — and it comes only after the landlord files an unlawful detainer lawsuit, you're served, and the case is decided. Only the court can award possession, and only the sheriff can carry out a lockout. Knowing whether the paper in your hand is a landlord's notice or a court document tells you where you are in the process — and how much time and how many steps remain.
A Few Things Worth Knowing
- A notice is a demand from the landlord; a judgment for possession is the court's ruling (or a jury's determination in a jury trial).
- A notice is the first step, not an eviction.
- Only the court can award possession, and only the sheriff can carry out a lockout.
The Tool for This Moment
Figure Out What You're Holding
The California Tenant Rapid Response System helps you identify what your document is and where it puts you in the process.