How to Find the Right Eviction Lawyer

If you find yourself in a situation where your tenant is unwilling to work with you on late rent or has failed to comply with a Notice to Quit, you probably have no choice but to file an eviction. In this situation, we always recommend that landlords hire a local eviction lawyer to handle the case. 

To be successful in an eviction case, you have to comply with all procedural requirements, and it’s worth the expense to hire a local eviction expert to handle your case. This ensures that it’s done correctly and means you no longer have to spend time dealing with a bad tenant and a bad outcome. 

Here are some tips to help you find the right eviction lawyer for your case. For more Landlord tips, state-specific eviction notices, or tenant screening services, visit ezLandlordForms.com. 

What to Look for in an Eviction Attorney 

Once you decide to hire an eviction attorney, the next step is choosing the right one for your case. There are lots of attorneys out there, but some are better than others. 

Take some time to research local lawyers to ensure you get the best lawyer for your case. If you do this correctly the first time, you’ll have a trusted attorney that you can call for other eviction cases or with landlord-tenant law questions. 

Here’s what you should prioritize in your search for a local eviction lawyer. 

Experience With Local Eviction Cases

Your priority when searching for an attorney is finding one with experience in eviction cases. You want an attorney who specializes in evictions and landlord-tenant laws. When looking at an attorney’s experience, make sure the attorney has experience in your location. 

Eviction laws vary from state to state, and some municipalities even have their own eviction requirements. To ensure you get the best representation possible, you want to find an attorney with extensive experience handling eviction cases in your county, city, or area. 

A High Success Rate 

Next, you want to narrow your search to eviction attorneys with a high success rate. This might seem like a given, but it’s worth noting and researching. 

Once you find attorneys who specialize in eviction cases, dig a little deeper to ensure they have a high success rate with eviction cases. You can review court records online, talk with prior clients, or ask the attorney what their success rate is for eviction cases. Doing some extra research and looking at case results will help ensure you narrow your search to eviction law experts. 

Good Reviews & Satisfied Clients 

The next step is looking at client reviews or getting feedback from other landlords. To make the process go as smoothly as possible, you want an attorney who is: 

• easy to work with
• efficient and handles cases promptly
• a good communicator and will keep you updated on the statute of your case 
• focused on customer service and provides every client with exceptional support

Client reviews and referrals from other landlords are the best way to learn about an attorney’s customer service and communication skills. You can read reviews online, ask other landlords for referrals, or ask an attorney’s office for client reviews or feedback. 

The Right Fit for Your Case 

Finally, you want to choose an attorney who is a good fit for your case and your real estate business. We recommend finding 3 to 4 eviction lawyers who have relevant experience, a track record of success, and good client reviews. 

Schedule a free case evaluation with each lawyer. During this free consultation, ask about: 

• The lawyer’s availability to handle your case
• The fee structure for your case 
• The strategy for your case

Consider each attorney’s response and your comfort working with each attorney. After this meeting, you should have a sense of which attorney is right for you. 

Be Proactive About Avoiding Evictions 

While the above steps will help you find a good eviction lawyer, a better outcome for landlords is avoiding evictions altogether. Unfortunately, evictions are on the rise across the United States. 

Data from the Eviction Lab reports that as many as 7% of renters face an eviction every year. It’s a difficult process for all parties involved, and something landlords want to avoid whenever possible. 

The good news is that you can drastically reduce the risk of evictions by only renting to qualified tenants. To ensure you consistently rent to qualified tenants, screen every applicant and only hand over possession to applicants who meet your screening criteria. Your tenant screening should include a tenant credit check, tenant criminal history background report, eviction history report, and ResidentScore or credit score. 

Our tenant screening services provide landlords with all the data they need to make informed decisions about tenants and reduce the risk of evictions and bad rental outcomes. All you need is an applicant’s name and email address to send a screening request, so make sure this is a step you never skip when filling a rental property vacancy. 

Visit ezLandlordForms for Property Management Support 

Whether you need to screen a tenant, customize an eviction notice, or search for an eviction lawyer, we’re here to help. We have tools to support you through every phase of the landlord lifecycle and are the property management partner every landlord needs. 

Create a free account today to start taking advantage of our full suite of property management tools.