The name of the tenant. If there is more than one tenant, list them all.
The date the tenant began renting.
Whether the rental agreement is written or oral.
The rental amount and when payments are due.
A description of any other parts of the agreement relevant to the claims.
The grounds for the eviction.
When and how the landlord gave the tenant the written termination notice.
Any other information to support the claims.
What the landlord is asking for. For example, an order evicting the tenant, an order to pay past-due rent, or something else.
The landlord also has the option of asking for a jury trial.
Drafting an eviction complaint can be complicated. Consider talking to an attorney. See the Finding Legal Help web page for information about the ways to get the help of an attorney.
Filing the Eviction Complaint
The eviction complaint is filed in the Civil Division of the Superior Court in the county where the property is located.
The landlord should keep copies of all the documents they file. They will need one set for the tenant, and one set for their records.
Here are the steps in the process:
The documents required to start an eviction case can be filed in person, by mail, and by email. See the Filing Procedures web page for more information about filing.
There is a filing fee to start the case. The Application to Waive Filing Fees and Service Costs web page has information about the process to ask to waive the filing fee, and the form to make the request.
The court will assign a case number (sometimes called a docket number), and will give the landlord a signed summons.
Sheriff serves the tenant
The landlord is responsible for arranging to have all of the documents filed with the court served on the tenant by a sheriff.