What is the end goal of a residential eviction lawsuit?
The end goal of a residential eviction lawsuit is not to put the tenant onto the street.
The goal of the eviction is to change the tenant’s mind about where the tenant is going to live.
Many times I hear from angry landlords that want to toss the tenant into the street and destroy the tenant’s credit so the tenant can’t do this same thing to some other landlord.
I always correct them. The goal of a residential eviction is not to put the tenant out on the street.
The goal is to change the tenant’s mind about where the tenant is going to live.
The THREE DAY NOTICE makes the tenant think that the tenant might have to move.
The EVICTION COMPLAINT and EVICTION SUMMONS make the tenant think about finding another place to live.
Once the tenant has changed his/her mind about where he/she wants to live, the eviction lawsuit is about 95% over. It is a psychological victory.
Oftentimes the tenant will then voluntarily vacate the property before the FINAL JUDGMENT FOR POSSESSION is signed by the judge.
That is a win for the landlord and sometimes eliminates the need for posting of the WRIT OF POSSESSION by the sheriff.