I got an eviction Notice from my landlord.Can I pay a rent and not move out?

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I just got an eviction notice from court today.Can I pay a rent to my landlord and not move out? They ask me to write the respond to their Lawyer too. What should I do? Thanks!

Attorney Answers

3
Jerry Stimmel ·
Your question is a little hard to follow, but I infer that you have been given an eviction summons which requires you to respond to the landlord's lawyer. If you pay rent now, it's money down the drain unless you have a formal written settlement agreement with the landlord which extinguishes the eviction case. Without the settlement agreement, paying now does not stop the eviction. You must answer the complaint and exactly follow the instructions and the deadline in the summons. I think you'll need a lawyer, and you might qualify for free legal help from the Housing Justice Project downtown at the courthouse. You should act immediately.
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Shane Mckinnie ·
If you have received an eviction summons and complaint for unlawful detainer, then Mr. Stimmel is correct. If you have just received a 3 Day Notice to Pay or Vacate, then you need to pay within 3 days of receiving the notice. I cannot tell from your question, exactly what type of notice you have received.
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Thuongtri Nguyen ·
It is not just rent that you need to pay now. The landlord will be wanting you to be paying the landlord's attorney's fees and court costs. Unlawful detainer proceedings move very quickly through the court in WA. From start to finish, the sheriff can be at the door in about four weeks to remove you from the premises. Depending on where you are in the process, the sheriff can be there very soon. For example, if your "eviction notice" is actually a writ of restitution that the sheriff has posted on the door, the sheriff will be returning in 3 to 5 days to escort you off the property if you are still there. You should not delay in reviewing the specific facts with your attorney to see what your legal options may be.
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