Unlawful Detainer
About Unlawful Detainer
New Laws Apply to Eviction Cases
State laws on eviction cases were amended during the COVID-19 pandemic to provide protections for residential tenants. The law provided protections for tenants who were given an eviction notice because they were unable to pay their rent or other charges between March 1, 2020 through March 31, 2022, due to COVID-19-related financial distress.
The state offered a rental assistance program to pay landlords the rent due during that period for tenants who qualified for the assistance.
More information about rental assistance here.
An Unlawful Detainer action is a special court proceeding to evict a tenant from a business or residence.
- Rental Assistance Application Verification - Information Sheet
- Landlord/Tenant Self-Help
- Unlawful Detainer Case Access (Civil Case Access)
- Unlawful Detainer Local Rule 356
- Unlawful Detainer Local Forms
- Court Designation List
- eFiling
- Civil Calendar Information
- General Information
Helpful Resources
Access information about evictions, foreclosures, and security deposits. Find instructions, forms, and answers to frequently asked questions.
Eviction & Housing
Evictions (Unlawful Detainer)
Learn about the eviction process with a guide for landlords, a guide for tenants, detailed instructions, forms, and resources.
Foreclosure
Find information and resources regarding the foreclosure process.
Security Deposits
Learn about security deposits, what are valid legal reasons for a landlord to keep all or part of a security deposit, and how to go to court to ask for the return of a security deposit.
Eviction cases in California
This guide includes information about:
- COVID-19 eviction protections
- Landlords: Starting an eviction case (an unlawful detainer court case)
- Tenants: Understanding your options if you get a Notice to Quit or Summons and Complaint
The information is only for evictions from a home or apartment. Talk to a lawyer for help with commercial (business) evictions.
Resolving Your Unlawful Detainer (Eviction) Case in the California Courts
Resolving Your Unlawful Detainer (Eviction) Case in the California Courts provides information about the options for resolving disputes between landlords and tenants about the right to occupy real property. If you are a landlord or a tenant with such a dispute, watching this video may help. The video is part of a series that provides information about resolving specific types of cases through the normal court process and through alternative dispute resolution (ADR) processes, which are usually less formal, less expensive, and less time consuming than a trial.