From Jennifer Lai,
Your Guide to Apartment Living / Rental.
FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now!

Definition: An eviction is a legal process that a landlord must go through to, essentially, kick out a tenant. The exact procedure differs from state to state, but no matter the state, the landlord must follow the state rules for evictions.

Evictions are required for tenants who have signed a lease. For tenants with a rental agreement, a landlord typically only has to give the tenant advance notice to leave.

Also Known As: an unlawful detainer, or a UD lawsuit