If you’re a landlord seeking to evict a tenant, use a Missouri (MO) eviction notice to begin the process. Your eviction notice must be written according to Missouri state law, and give your tenant the legally required amount of time to respond or move out.
In Missouri, eviction lawsuits are governed by Chapter 441 and 535 of the Revised Statutes of Missouri.
An eviction notice in Missouri is also known as:
- Missouri Notice to Quit
- Missouri Notice to Vacate
- Missouri Notice to Pay Rent or Quit
Missouri Eviction Notices by Type
Download a free eviction notice customized for Missouri state law below in MS Word (.docx) or Adobe PDF format.
30-Day Lease Termination: Use this notice to let a tenant know that you’re ending their month-to-month lease, and that they must prepare to leave your property. In Missouri, landlords must give tenants 30 days’ notice to move out if they’re on a month-to-month lease.
Download: Word (.docx) or Adobe PDF
10-Day Notice to Quit for Non-Compliance: Use this notice to begin evicting a tenant if they’ve broken the terms of your lease. In Missouri, landlords must give tenants 10 days’ notice before the eviction process can proceed in court. In that time, tenants may have the option to fix (or “cure”) the problem.
Download: Word (.docx) or Adobe PDF
Notice to Pay Rent or Quit: Use this notice to begin evicting a tenant if they haven’t paid rent on time. In Missouri, landlords must give their tenant written notice before the eviction process can proceed in court. The law doesn’t specify how many days a landlord must give a tenant to pay their rent, so it falls on the landlord to decide.
Download: Word (.docx) or Adobe PDF
If you wish to send a letter simply reminding your tenant that rent is late (without threat of eviction), use a late rent notice.
Eviction Laws & Requirements
- Eviction Lawsuit: Chapter 441 and Chapter 535 of the Revised Statutes of Missouri
- Grace Period for Rent Payment: No grace period for the late payment of rent. (§ 535.010)
- Late or Non-Rent Payment Notice: Immediate (§ 535.010)
- Notice of Non-Compliance: 10 days (§ 441.040)
- Lease Termination (Month-to-Month): 30 days (§ 441.060)
What is the Eviction Process in Missouri?
Step 1: Provide written notice
The eviction process in Missouri officially begins when the landlord provides written notice to the tenant. The notice should indicate the reason for the eviction, as well as any applicable deadline to come in compliance.
Step 2: File for eviction
If the tenant doesn’t pay the owed rent, the landlord can proceed by filing a Petition for Rent and Possession. They must file this petition specifically at the circuit court in the county where the real property is located.
If the tenant is being evicted for non-compliance, the landlord should file an unlawful detainer action. The landlord is generally responsible for making sure the tenant is properly served with the complaint and summons.
Step 3: Attend the hearing
The landlord and tenant attend the hearing and the court issues a judgment. If the decision is in favor of the landlord, the tenant has 10 days to appeal. After this time has elapsed, the landlord can apply for a writ of possession. Each county uses its own form for a writ of possession. This document gives the sheriff the legal authority to physically remove a tenant from the property.
Step 4: Contact the sheriff
Once you receive an approved writ of possession, you can send this document to the sheriff’s office and the tenant can be physically removed from the property.
Related Missouri Court Forms
The following forms are specific to Jackson County and should be viewed as examples only:
Landlord’s Petition for Rent and Possession: The landlord must fill out the petition and file it with the circuit court to officially begin the case. This petition states the landlord’s legal justification to evict the tenant.
Motion for Order to Post: A Motion for Order to Post requests the court allow the eviction process to proceed.
Judgment for Defendant: The judgment must be completed to make the court’s order official.
Request for Writ of Possession: A writ of possession authorizes the sheriff’s office to take physical possession of the property. Each county uses its own form for this purpose.
Eviction Information for Missouri Landlords and Tenants
Landlords
For landlords, the Missouri Attorney General site is a good resource for explaining a landlord’s rights and the legal process to evict a tenant, which are outlined in the Missouri’s Landlord-Tenant Law publication.
Tenants
For tenants, the Missouri Attorney General site is also a good resource for explaining a tenants’ rights and the legal process to evict a tenant, which are outlined in the Missouri’s Landlord-Tenant Law publication.
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has listed extensive resources for tenants facing eviction, including: