California unlawful detainer: $1,500 flat, priced up front. $0 to start, billed per completed stage.
The $1,500 is the whole attorney fee for an uncontested case, notice through judgment and writ, with no attorney charge per added tenant. Your county's court costs are shown beside it before you give us a name, and the contested path is published in advance, not 'call us'.
What to expect in California
AB 1482 screening on every case
Just-cause coverage is determined before any notice is selected. Covered breach cases get the required two-notice sequence automatically.
The 2025 answer window, handled
Tenants now have 10 court days to respond (AB 2347). Our deadline engine tracks court days, not calendar days: another common DIY dismissal.
CARES Act + SCRA checks
Federally backed mortgage screening and servicemember verification before any default judgment, on every case.
Where we file
Riverside, San Bernardino, Sacramento, Orange, and most non-rent-controlled jurisdictions online today.
The California calendar, day by day
AB 1482 just-cause screening runs before any notice is selected.
- Day 0USNotice servedSET BY LAW3-day notice. Weekends and judicial holidays are excluded from the count itself - a frequent DIY defect.CCP 1161(2)-(3)
- Day 5USNotice expiresSET BY LAWThree countable days later. Our engine counts them; you do not.CCP 1161
- Day 6USComplaint filed & servedCOURT’S CALENDARSummons and complaint filed in your county and served on the tenant.
- Day 18COURTAnswer dueSET BY LAW10 court days after service - court days, not calendar days (15 if served by mail).AB 2347 / CCP 1167
- Day 25USJudgmentCOURT’S CALENDARNo answer means we request judgment by default after CARES Act and SCRA screening.
- Day 30COURTSheriff 5-day notice endsSET BY LAWThe sheriff posts a 5-day notice to vacate before the lockout.CCP 715.010
- Day 34COURTKeys backCOURT’S CALENDARSheriff performs the lockout and restores possession.
Los Angeles, San Francisco, Oakland and Berkeley are not available online - local rent-stabilization and right-to-counsel ordinances require case-specific review.
Day counts run from the day the notice is served. Statutory intervals are fixed by law; hearing, judgment, and lockout dates are set by the court and the constable or sheriff and vary by county. No result or date is guaranteed.
Court costs in major counties
These are the courts’ charges, not ours, estimated for your county and billed at the amount the court or officer charges.
| County | Filing & service | Writ |
|---|---|---|
| Riverside | $270 + service | $40 + sheriff $180 |
| San Bernardino | $255 + service | $40 + sheriff $180 |
| Sacramento | $240 + service | $40 + sheriff $180 |
| Orange | $240 + service | $40 + sheriff $180 |
Not in these figures: where more than $10,000 is demanded the court's filing fee is higher, $385 up to $35,000 (Riverside $410, San Bernardino $395) and more above that. Estimates from published schedules on the date shown; the sheriff figure is Riverside's published schedule. Costs are billed at the amount the court or officer charges.
California eviction questions, answered
How long does an unlawful detainer take in California?
Our published calendar runs about five weeks from notice to lockout for an uncontested case. Since AB 2347 took effect, tenants have 10 court days to file an answer, so a contested case takes longer. Either way, you watch each step and date in the portal instead of guessing.
What does a valid notice to pay rent or quit require?
For nonpayment, California requires a notice that demands the exact rent actually due, not late fees or utilities, with the notice period counted in court days, excluding weekends and judicial holidays (CCP 1161). An overstated amount or a defective notice is the most common reason unlawful detainers fail. Notice review is the first step in every case we take.
My property is covered by AB 1482. Can I still evict?
Yes. AB 1482 requires just cause once a tenancy passes the qualifying occupancy period, and nonpayment of rent is an at-fault just cause. During intake we confirm whether your property is covered or exempt and whether your notice needs just-cause language.
Why is online intake unavailable for Los Angeles and San Francisco?
Cities with rent stabilization ordinances such as Los Angeles, San Francisco, Oakland, and Berkeley layer local requirements on top of state law, and a one-size filing is how cases get dismissed there. The Firm may decline those matters or quote them separately in writing.
What happens after I win a judgment?
The court issues a writ of possession, the sheriff posts a 5-day notice to vacate at the property (CCP 715.010), and if the tenant has not left, the sheriff restores possession. Those final days are already built into the calendar above.
What are the most common mistakes in California evictions?
Overstating the rent due, serving the notice incorrectly or without a proof of service, filing before the notice period has fully run, and missing federal CARES Act coverage on financed properties. Any of these can undo weeks of waiting. Our attorneys check every one before filing.
General information about California law, not legal advice about your case. Every case turns on its facts.