Served Answer on Saturday - Court 9 AM Monday - Landlord Forum thread 361292

Served Answer on Saturday - Court 9 AM Monday by Taylor on June 5, 2021 @16:37

I'm in Texas. I am in the process of evicting my tenants. The hearing is scheduled for 9 AM on Monday in Harris County. At 1:52 PM today, Saturday, I received an email Notification of Service that my tenants filed a response. They have an attorney and are requesting a jury trial. The tenants are denying the eviction petition. Of course they want to live in a house where they can get away without paying rent! I'm not sure what to do. I don't want to go up against an attorney by myself, but how do I find an attorney and deal with this over the weekend? Will I be permitted time to get an attorney when I show up (virtually) for the hearing on Monday? Thanks in advance!

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Re: Served Answer on Saturday - Court 9 AM Monday by Garry on June 6, 2021 @11:01	[ Reply ]

Be absolutely certain you show up for your virtual meeting on Monday. If the T's and/or their attorney show up and ask for a trial, or at least a postponement of the eviction process, you need to request as short a delay as possible, and time for you to get an attorney. I'm guessing 2 weeks would be enough time for a judge to call together a jury (if they even have a Jury for evictions), and for you to find a lawyer. Also request that if the Ts lose their case, that the judge makes the Ts pay for your legal fees, and loss of rents, for the extra time and money you will need to spend beyond this hearing date on Monday

Re: Served Answer on Saturday - Court 9 AM Monday

Re: Served Answer on Saturday - Court 9 AM Monday by Taylor on June 7, 2021 @11:37	[ Reply ]

Tenant's attorney questioned the validity of my termination notice. I sent a 3 Day Pay or Quit. According to the tenant's attorney, since I offered a way to cure, it negates the termination notice. It doesn't seem to matter that it was not cured. The judge gave a continuance until Wednesday morning. He doesn't know if the notice is invalid, so he is planning to do some research. Does anyone know if a 3 Day Notice to Pay or Quit is a valid means of terminating a lease in Texas, before filing for an eviction? I do my best to follow the property code. The judge started by suggested that we settle on rent for May and June. The tenant wants to only pay one month's rent AND be allowed to stay in the house for 45 to 60 days, so she can find another house, since this is all so last minute.

Re: Served Answer on Saturday - Court 9 AM Monday