The corona virus crisis impacting all of us has led to an increased number of calls from landlords and tenants and the main reason for the increase in phone calls is the mandated shelter in place policies and its economic impact – whether through reduced hours or temporary closing of their place of employment. As rent is the largest monthly expense for most people, I’ve been experiencing a large number of calls from my landlord/clients who ask me if eviction is even possible during the COVID-19 pandemic?

The short answer is the landlord can file an eviction to evict a tenant, but the courts won’t hear the case until or after April 19th. The Supreme Court of Texas issued an emergency order stopping all hearings or proceedings until after April 19. What does this mean? It means the landlords still need to send the 3-day notice to vacate. On the 4th day the landlord can then file the eviction case at the local Justice of the Peace. However, instead of the clerk handing you a piece of paper with the court date in two weeks, the court clerk will instead hand you just a receipt confirming the service and filing fees have been paid. After April 19th, the Court clerks will set the cases for hearings.

If you are a landlord or tenant and have any questions – or if you have any general legal questions, please feel free to reach out to me by phone/text at 832-896-6288 or by email at attorney.dave@yahoo.com.

Please note:

1. This is only specific for Texas eviction laws, each state has their own so please verify with a licensed attorney in your state;
2. The situation is constantly changing so this information may be out of date;
3. The Supreme Court of Texas may issue another emergency order at anytime so this information may also be out of date;
4. This post is for general information purposes only, as each legal issue is unique and eviction laws are state specific, you must consult with an attorney licensed in your state for the most accurate legal advice.

Disclaimer:  this website and blog posts are for general information and educational purposes only. This blog post and website provides basic information and does not provide specific legal advice to your situation. By using our website, or by communicating with our office by comment, phone, text, or e-mail, you confirm that there exists no attorney-client relationship between you and David Hsu Brogden and Associates. Each legal issue is complex and you must seek a licensed attorney in your specific jurisdiction to discuss your specific situation.