Eviction Notice Template

An eviction notice is a written document that informs a tenant of unpaid rent, a lease violation, or the end of a tenancy and explains the required action and response period. Use Lumr’s eviction notice template to help you prepare this document in line with your state's laws.

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Key Elements of an Eviction Notice

  • Lists the tenants, the rental property’s full address, and the landlord or their agent.
  • Mentions a reason for termination, such as nonpayment of rent or another type of lease violation.
  • Informs the tenant that they must pay rent or remedy the violation or allow the tenant to vacate the rental unit within a specified period of time, if applicable.
  • Provides the tenant with the legally required amount of time to either remedy the situation or vacate the rental unit and warns the tenant that failure to do so may result in legal action being taken against him/her.
  • Includes a signature and date, and also a separate record indicating how and when you served the notice to the tenant.

Eviction Notice by State

  • Alabama
  • California
  • Florida
  • Georgia
  • Illinois
  • Indiana
  • Louisiana
  • Michigan
  • Missouri
  • Ohio
  • Oregon
  • Texas

Types of Eviction Notice

The eviction notice form you need depends on why you are notifying the tenant. Each type serves a different purpose, and its wording, notice period, and availability depend on applicable law.

  • Notice to Pay or Quit: Gives the tenant time to pay overdue rent or move out.
  • Notice to Cure or Quit: Requires the tenant to correct a lease violation or leave the property.
  • Unconditional Quit Notice: Forces the tenant to leave without an opportunity to correct the issue.
  • Notice to Vacate / Notice to Terminate Tenancy: Announces the lawful end of a tenancy, which does not necessarily involve a lease violation.

What Is an Eviction Notice?

An eviction notice (also known as “notice to quit” or “termination notice” depending on your jurisdiction) is a written communication that you as a landlord can give to a tenant to request a specific action within a legally required period. It generally comes before an eviction lawsuit and may give the tenant time to correct a lease violation or move out.

A notice does not authorize you to forcibly remove a tenant. If the tenant stays and the issue remains unresolved, you generally must pursue the court process to recover possession.

What Is the Purpose of an Eviction Notice?

An eviction notice letter formally communicates what the tenant needs to do and establishes a record of the landlord’s request. Clear instructions can help resolve an issue before it becomes a court case.

Depending on the circumstances, a simple eviction notice helps you:

  • Request overdue rent and explain how to pay it.
  • Identify a lease violation and describe how to correct it.
  • Communicate a lawful tenancy end date.
  • Document the notice provided before any later court action.

Using this document can keep the message easy to understand as long as it includes all legally required information.

How to Write an Eviction Notice

Use Lumr’s online eviction notice template to organize your information and prepare your document. Have the lease, tenant details, payment records, and any relevant records of lease violations ready before you begin.

  1. Check the rules for your rental property

    Review state and local requirements, along with the lease, and confirm the permitted grounds for the notice, required wording, and notice period.

  2. Select the correct notice type

    Select the type of notice that matches the reason for wanting the tenant to move out or correct a violation. Overdue rent may call for a notice to pay or quit, while a correctable lease violation may require a notice to cure or quit.

  3. Enter the tenant and landlord details

    Add your full name, the tenant's full name, and the property address.

  4. Explain the reason and required action

    Describe the issue using specific facts and relevant dates. For unpaid rent, identify the rental periods, amount due, and payment instructions. Only include charges that applicable law allows.

  5. Set the correct notice period

    Confirm how much time the tenant must receive and how to calculate it, as the delivery method and holidays can affect the deadline.

  6. Review, sign, and download

    Go over names, addresses, amounts, dates, and any required statements to make sure they are correct. Add the appropriate signature and date, then download your form.

  7. Serve the notice and keep a copy as proof

    Deliver the completed document using a method permitted for your notice and location. Preparing it online does not mean email delivery is sufficient.

    Keep a copy and a signed record of service and allow the full required notice period before taking any next step toward an eviction lawsuit.

FAQ

Eviction Notice FAQs

Go over the following answers to eviction notice questions to understand what to check before serving your notice and how to handle the next steps.

Does an eviction notice have to be notarized?

Normally, you can sign the notice, and it does not need to be notarized. However, you should check with your state whether they want the notice itself notarized or some sort of affidavit of service that says how the notice was delivered.

Can a landlord change locks without an eviction notice?

To repossess an occupied property, you will have to go through the proper legal channels of evicting the tenant, meaning that you cannot simply hand them a notice and change the locks to stop them entering the property.

What happens when an eviction notice expires?

The next step you have to take if your notice expires is based on whether the tenant complied with your notice. If they did not, you could go to court for an eviction lawsuit after making sure that you gave a proper notice of termination.

Can a landlord serve an eviction notice directly?

Check your local service requirements before delivering the notice in person. Some jurisdictions allow landlords to serve it directly, while others require another person. Document the delivery using any required proof of service.

Can an eviction notice be reversed?

If you and your tenant resolve the issue, there's normally no problem withdrawing the notice. Put the withdrawal and any agreement in writing, and separately arrange to dismiss an eviction case if you already filed one.

What happens if the tenant ignores the eviction notice?

You may need to ask a court to resolve the matter if the tenant takes no action to resolve any issue. Keep your notice and service records, allow the full response period, and confirm your grounds before filing.

Is an eviction notice a public record?

A notice you prepare and serve normally stays outside the public court record. If you submit it later on with an eviction case, it may become accessible, depending on your state's confidentiality laws and sealing rules.

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