How Much Does It Cost to Evict Someone?

Evicting a tenant isn’t just stressful — it can be costly. The average cost to evict someone ranges from $500 to $5,000, depending on whether you hire a lawyer, how contested the case is, and state requirements.

For landlords and property managers looking to evict a tenant, it’s important to understand the costs — and how you can save money along the way.

Average Cost to Evict Someone

The overall cost to evict someone comes from lawyer fees, court proceedings, and location. Breaking down the costs creates a greater understanding of the fees and what to expect.

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Do I Need a Lawyer to Evict Someone?

Not necessarily. Many straightforward evictions (non-payment of rent, no disputes) don’t require a lawyer.

However, hiring a lawyer for more complex eviction cases boosts your chances of getting an eviction order from the court. Having the help of a lawyer also ensures legal compliance throughout the process. The costs of hiring a lawyer include:

• Hourly rates: Lawyers typically charge by the billable hour, so you pay for the time spent on your case. The average hourly rate for eviction lawyers is $150 to $500.
• Flat fee rates: Some legal professionals offer flat-rate eviction services for upfront pricing and payment. These fees range from $500 to $800.

Eviction Cost Breakdown

The eviction process includes various steps and legal actions on behalf of the landlord. Each part of the process comes with costs, such as filing an eviction suit, consulting with lawyers, serving documents, court fees, and more.

Eviction Suit Filing Fees

After you send an eviction notice or notice to comply or vacate, you must file a complaint with the court. Filing the complaint comes with a flat fee of $50-$250, depending on your state’s landlord-tenant laws. The court will then process the paperwork and notify both parties of the complaint.

Legal Representation

If the tenant disputes the eviction, you may need legal representation. Depending on the case’s complexity and location, hiring representation can add thousands of dollars to your overall costs. Legal processes like discovery, motions, and research increase billable hours and expenses. Remember that each additional hour may cost $150 to $500, depending on your legal help.

Process Server Fees

Serving eviction documents to tenants usually requires the use of a process server. The process server delivers the legal forms to the tenant and guarantees they receive them. The average cost for this service ranges from $40 to $200.

Court Costs

The eviction process requires you and your tenant to appear in court. Here, you provide the judge with your reason for evicting and provide proof such as late rent notices, documented lease agreement violations, or property damage. The overall cost of court appearances for an eviction hearing averages $50 to $500, depending on the jurisdiction.

Lost Rental Income

Many evictions occur because of a non-payment of rent. As a landlord, you lose the rent income for a few months. In addition, you cannot collect any unpaid rent or back rent during the eviction process. The total cost of lost rent varies significantly depending on your usual rental rates and the length of the eviction case, and lost rental income often serves as the most significant financial consequence of eviction.

Property Turnover Costs

Evicting one tenant often means replacing them with another. In this case, you may pay for upgrades, repairs, and cleaning to compensate for property turnover. Finding another tenant also includes costs and resources for advertising the property and screening applicants.

If the eviction was caused by a lease violation, such as unauthorized pets, illegal activity, or property damage, you may have the right to keep the security deposit. The funds from the security deposit help cover some of the costs of the property turnover.

Miscellaneous Costs

Evictions and the aftermath also come with many hidden and miscellaneous costs. Here are some of the most common additional costs of an eviction:

• Hiring locksmiths: After the tenant leaves, consider changing the locks. A locksmith can cost an additional $100 to $200.
• Storing tenant belongings: Depending on state laws, a landlord is typically responsible for storing tenant belongings for up to 30 days.
• Notarizing documents: In some cases, an eviction notice may require notarization, which adds another cost between $5 and $25, depending on the state.
• Enforcing rulings: If the tenant refuses to leave independently after an eviction ruling, ask a sheriff to escort them out. Depending on the location, the sheriff’s services typically range from $50 to $400.

Additional Costs to Consider

Evicting a tenant includes additional expenses such as collections, enforcement, and emotional considerations. Consider the extra costs, such as:

• Collections and Enforcement: Landlords can use a collections order or money judgment to get unpaid rent payments, damage costs, or court costs from tenants.
• Time and Emotional Strain: The process can prove long and taxing, adding emotional costs to the monetary ones. Court appearances, paperwork, and enforcing the eviction require a lot of scheduling and information.

Cost Comparison by State

Your location has an immense impact on the cost of evicting someone. Consider the fees for filing and receiving an eviction notice in each state to understand your overall expenses better.

DIY vs. Hiring a Lawyer

Evicting someone alone or with a lawyer’s help provides challenges and benefits. Using DIY methods such as templates reduces the overall costs as you don’t have to pay lawyers. In addition, you can save time with a DIY template for evictions, as there’s less back and forth between you and the legal experts. However, templates can leave room for error and lack the additional safety of professional legal understanding.

Hiring a lawyer to help draft, file, and serve eviction orders adds a layer of legal security. Lawyers with experience and expertise in landlord-tenant laws and evictions offer helpful insight and resources for court filing, enforcing orders, and following local regulations. However, attorney fees add up quickly, and meeting with lawyers may require extra time.

How to Save Money on an Eviction

Eviction processes can quickly become costly, but they don’t have to be. Consider the following way to save money on an eviction:

• Combine professional and DIY: Begin with a DIY template for the initial paperwork and eviction notice, then hire a professional to review the documents and handle any court proceedings.
• Reduce conflicts: Work with the tenant to find compromises, align schedules, and reduce disputes for fewer court costs and hourly attorney fees.
• Consider alternative methods: Before pursuing an eviction, consider options such as a cash-for-keys agreement, mutual lease termination, or rent payment plan.

Legal Templates offers a customizable eviction notice template and other real estate forms to meet your needs. Lawyers have reviewed these forms for legal accuracy so you can develop your notice without stress or extra costs.

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