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You must receive notice in three ways: phone call/text or email, mail, and posting on your door.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":32,"og:type":75,"og:title":10,"og:site_name":45,"og:description":12},"article",{"robots":77,"canonical":32},"index,follow",{"doc_id":79,"site_id":7},280246,1790074960,{"code":4,"msg":82,"data":83},"success",[84,89,94,99,104,109,114,117,122],{"id":85,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":86,"show_sort_weight":87,"slug":88},11,"Presentations",90,"presentations",{"id":90,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":91,"show_sort_weight":92,"slug":93},12,"Resumes",80,"resumes",{"id":95,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":96,"show_sort_weight":97,"slug":98},14,"Invoices",70,"invoices",{"id":100,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":101,"show_sort_weight":102,"slug":103},15,"Posters",60,"posters",{"id":105,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":106,"show_sort_weight":107,"slug":108},16,"Social Media",50,"social-media",{"id":110,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":111,"show_sort_weight":112,"slug":113},17,"Forms",40,"forms",{"id":55,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":29,"show_sort_weight":115,"slug":116},30,"letters",{"id":118,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":119,"show_sort_weight":120,"slug":121},21,"Paper Templates",5,"papers-templates",{"id":123,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":124,"show_sort_weight":4,"slug":125},158,"General","general-158",{"code":4,"msg":82,"data":127},{"doc_id":79,"user_id":128,"nickname":42,"user_avatar":129,"doc_module":22,"category_id":55,"category_name":29,"doc_title":10,"doc_description":12,"doc_content":130,"file_id":131,"file_url":132,"file_type":133,"file_size":134,"view_count":55,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":22,"is_downloadable":22,"audit_status":22,"page_count":135,"language":136,"language_code":8,"site_id":7,"html_lang":8,"table_of_contents":137,"faqs":138,"seo_title":139,"seo_description":12,"update_tm":140,"read_time":90},549758146520,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/avatar/80002397d8c0411e94?_k=1775819394049821470","Tenant Guide to Eviction Cases for Non-Payment of  \nRent  \nUpdated February 2025  \n1331 H Street NW, Suite 350, Washington DC 20005  \n202-628-1161  \n[legalaiddc.org](legalaiddc.org)  \nPlease Note  \nThis packet gives you information about how you can defend yourself if your landlord is suing to evict you in DC Superior Court for not paying rent.  \nIf you have a subsidy, or receive help paying your rent each month, this information  \nmay not apply to your case.  \nThis packet does not contain legal advice.  \nThis guide contains legal information. Legal information is background information about your rights. Legal advice is advice from a lawyer about what to do in your own specific situation. Legal Aid is not your lawyer in your eviction matter. To find out about help that may be available, please contact the Landlord Tenant Legal Assistance Network at 202-780-2575.  \nSection 1: Introduction ........................................................................................................... 4  \nWhat is in This Packet? ...................................................................................................................4  \nWhat is Landlord Tenant Court?..................................................................................................... 4  \nWhat Happens After You Have Been Sued? .................................................................................... 4  \nWhat are My Options if I’m Facing Eviction? .................................................................................. 5  \nSection 2: Preparing a Case .................................................................................................... 7  \nWhat Will it Cost to Litigate My Case?............................................................................................ 7  \nIf I Choose to Go to Court, How Can I Defend Myself? .................................................................... 7  \nHow Do I Respond to an Eviction Suit? ........................................................................................... 9  \nSection 3: Hearings .............................................................................................................. 10  \nWhat to Expect at an Initial Hearing..............................................................................................10  \nConsenting to a Magistrate Judge .................................................................................................11  \nWhat is a Protective Order?..........................................................................................................11  \nWhat is a Bell Hearing?.................................................................................................................11  \nWhat Happens if I Miss a Protective Order Payment?....................................................................12  \nSection 4: Mediation and Settlement ................................................................................... 13  \nWhat Happens at Mediation? .......................................................................................................13  \nWhat Would a Settlement Agreement Include?.............................................................................13  \nDo I Have to Agree to Settle the Case? ..........................................................................................14  \nWhat Happens if We Settle the Case, But One of Us Breaks the Agreement?..................................14  \nSection 5: Trial ..................................................................................................................... 15  \nWhat Evidence Should I Bring to Trial? ..........................................................................................15  \nAdditional Resources ........................................................................................................... 18  \nSection 1: Introduction  \nWhat is in This Packet?  \nThis packet tells you wh","cbCaidtd9dmf9IX9","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaidtd9dmf9IX9","pdf",1338218,33,"English","# Section 1: Introduction\n## What is in This Packet?\n## What is Landlord Tenant Court?\n## What Happens After You Have Been Sued?\n## What are My Options if I’m Facing Eviction?\n# Section 2: Preparing a Case\n## What Will it Cost to Litigate My Case?\n## If I Choose to Go to Court, How Can I Defend Myself?\n## How Do I Respond to an Eviction Suit?\n# Section 3: Hearings\n## What to Expect at an Initial Hearing\n## Consenting to a Magistrate Judge\n## What is a Protective Order?\n## What is a Bell Hearing?\n## What Happens if I Miss a Protective Order Payment?\n# Section 4: Mediation and Settlement\n## What Happens at Mediation?\n## What Would a Settlement Agreement Include?\n## Do I Have to Agree to Settle the Case?\n## What Happens if We Settle the Case, But One of Us Breaks the Agreement?\n# Section 5: Trial\n## What Evidence Should I Bring to Trial?\n## Additional Resources","[{\"question\":\"What should I do if my landlord sues me for eviction in DC for not paying rent?\",\"answer\":\"The packet explains how to defend yourself in DC Landlord Tenant Court after being sued for non-payment of rent, including how the process works and what to expect at hearings. It also emphasizes that evictions outside of court are illegal.\"},{\"question\":\"Can my landlord evict me without a court order or change the locks?\",\"answer\":\"No. The guide states that your landlord can only evict you through the court process, meaning a judge must grant permission. It also states that changing locks without a court order and cutting off utilities or removing possessions are illegal.\"},{\"question\":\"What happens after I lose at trial and my landlord sets an eviction date?\",\"answer\":\"If you lose at trial, your landlord must give you at least 21 days’ notice of the eviction date. You must receive notice in three ways: phone call/text or email, mail, and posting on your door.\"}]","Tenant Guide to Eviction Cases for Non-Payment of Rent - Updated February 2025 | PDF",1789535445]