Eviction Notice Response Checklist

• If you're facing eviction, contact a local legal aid organization or tenant hotline right away -- many offer free help, and eviction cases often move fast.
• Save the eviction notice exactly as you received it, including how and when it arrived.
• Note the date you actually received the notice, not just the date printed on it.
• Read the notice carefully to identify the stated reason.
• Check your state's rules and deadlines for responding to this type of notice (the app shows them).
• Do not ignore the notice, even if you believe it's incorrect or unfair.
• Gather evidence related to the stated reason, such as rent payment records, repair requests, or communication with your landlord.
• Save copies of your lease, past rent receipts, and any related correspondence.
• Write a clear, factual timeline of events from your perspective.
• Look into local legal aid, tenant unions, or court self-help resources in your area.
• If you plan to respond in court, note the correct court, the deadline, and any required forms (the app shows what applies in your state).
• Organize every document, photo, and note together in your Renter Shield evidence vault.
• Use Renter Shield's letter generator if you need to draft a written response, but strongly consider getting legal help for an eviction case.
• Avoid making any written statements, verbal agreements, or payments you don't have a clear record of.

Where am I in this process?

Eviction stages: where you are and what happens next — a stage map with no deadlines, showing what each stage means and what to do at it. All five decision guides.