In order to evict you, the first thing your landlord must do is: 1. Give you a written 3-day notice of eviction. (If you receive a 3. day notice, you can still stay in your house.) 2. The landlord would need to take you to court. 3. A judge has to order the eviction. 4. Finally, the sheriff’s department enforces the eviction by coming to remove you from your home. A landlord cannot evict you on their own. The courts must be involved. If your landlord tries to evict you without taking you to court, they are breaking the law. Regardless of the reason, for an eviction to be legal, your landlord must give you the opportunity to present your side of the story to a judge. Always show up to the court hearing to present your side of the story with any relevant documents. If a landlord attempts a “self-help” eviction (changing locks or shutting off utilities) without taking you to court first, that is illegal and a violation of your rights.