What happens if you lose your eviction case

If the judge says you have to move out

If the judge or jury decides your landlord can evict you, the court gives your landlord a Judgment of Possession (form UD-110).

Next steps:

• Your landlord gets a Writ of Execution (form EJ-130) from the court.

• They give it to the sheriff.

• The sheriff gives you a Notice to Vacate—this gives you 5 days to move out.

• If you don’t move out, the sheriff can lock you out of your home.

What you can do now

Ask for more time to move

If you need more than 5 days to move, you can ask the court for a little extra time. This is called a stay of execution.

Learn how to ask for more time

⚠️ You will owe your landlord rent for each day you stay after the deadline. 

If you missed your court date

If you didn’t go to court, you might be able to ask for a do-over (called a set aside)—for example, if you had an emergency.

Learn about setting aside a judgment

If you were approved for rental help

If you were approved for government rental assistance and your landlord is evicting you for unpaid rent, you may be able to stop the eviction.

Fill out Application to Prevent Forfeiture Due to COVID-19 Rental Debt (form UD-125)

If you owe your landlord money

The judge may also say you owe:

• Back rent

• Damages or penalties

• Court costs or attorney’s fees

Pay the full amount

After you pay, ask your landlord to file an Acknowledgment of Satisfaction of Judgment (form EJ-100). This proves you paid the debt and helps your credit.

Ask for a payment plan

• Ask your landlord if they’ll agree to a payment plan.

• Put it in writing so there’s no confusion.

• If they won’t agree, you can ask the court for permission to pay over time. You do this by filing a motion. There’s no court form for this, so most people need legal help.

Contact your local legal aid, law library, or court self-help center for help.

Choose to not pay

If you don’t pay, your landlord can try to collect the money by:

• Taking up to 25% of your paycheck. This is called wage garnishment

• Taking money from your bank account. This is called a bank levy

This can hurt your credit, which makes it harder to:

• Rent a home

• Get loans or credit cards

• Get a good interest rate

Some money can’t be taken from your pay or bank account. This is called exempt income. It includes:

• Social Security

• Money you need to support your family

If your money is exempt, you can file a Claim of Exemption (form EJ-160) or Claim of Exemption (Wage Garnishment) (form WG-006) to ask the court to stop or lower what’s taken.

Learn about claims of exemption

If you think the judge didn't follow the law

If you believe the judge didn’t follow the law, you may be able to appeal. But an appeal does not stop the sheriff from evicting you.

📌 Talk to a lawyer if you're thinking about an appeal.

Learn more about appeals

🛑 This may be the final step

If you don’t file an appeal or ask the court to set aside the judgment, the case is over. The judge’s decision is final.