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What is REIS?
The Residential Eviction Information Sheet.
 

Whether you are a landlord or a tenant, you should understand your rights. The Residential Eviction Information Sheet (REIS) is a document that must be provided to a tenant when a summons is served upon a tenant in residential property actions. The REIS includes important information about your rights and the eviction action procedure at the court. Below is a breakdown of each section of the REIS.
 
 
Notice   Rent Cases
That a landlord must give a tenant written notice that explains why an eviction process has begun. Usually, this is a Notice of Non-Payment of Rent that is posted to your front door and mailed to your address. The notice must have been provided to the tenant before the lawsuit was filed, or along with the summons.
 

INFO SHEET: NON-PAYMENT OF RENT

   Inability to pay rent is not a legal defense and the judge cannot give the tenant more time to pay. If the eviction action was filed because rent was not paid, the tenant can stop the eviction action and continue to live in the residence by paying all the rent now due, late fees, attorneys’ fees and court costs. If all the rent due, late fees, attorneys’ fees and court costs are not paid and a judgment has been granted, the landlord is the only person who can reinstate the lease and that is solely in the landlord’s discretion to do so.
 

INFO SHEET: TENANT'S OBLIGATIONS

 
Before Court   At Court
If a tenant disagrees with the landlord’s claims, the tenant can file an “answer” on a form available from the justice court. Remember, there is no legal defense to non-payment of rent, even if the tenant is having financial problems. Under certain circumstances, the tenant may file a counterclaim.

If a tenant fails to appear at court, and the landlord or attorney is present, a judgment will probably be entered against the tenant. Tenants can hire an attorney or represent themselves. The court does not provide a lawyer for either party. Watch Legal Info Video: Your Landlord is Taking You to Court if you are a residential tenant. Go to the Legal Info Videos landing page to view other videos based on your type of housing: residential, mobile home, and recreational vehicle (RV).
 

EVICTION FORMS AND NOTICES  VIDEO: YOUR LANDLORD IS TAKING YOU TO COURT

   The summons that was served on the tenant has the date, time, and place for the court hearing. If both parties are present, the judge will ask the tenant if the landlord’s claims are true. If the tenant says “no,” then the tenant will tell the judge why. If the reason is a legal defense, the judge will need to hear testimony from both sides and will decide after a trial. The trial may be that day or within the next three days. The tenant may speak to the landlord or landlord’s attorney. A tenant may wish to agree to what the landlord is requesting by signing a “stipulation.” Most stipulations include a judgment against the tenant.
 

VIDEO: TENANT DEFENSES FOR NON-PAYMENT OF RENT  VIDEO: WHAT IS A STIPULATED JUDGMENT?

 
Continuances   After Judgment
Either party can ask for a continuance; however, the court will agree only if there is a good reason. Any delay will be for no more than three business days. There is no guarantee that a continuance will be granted, so parties must come prepared for trial and bring necessary witnesses and documents.   If the court has granted a judgment to the landlord, the landlord may apply for a writ of restitution to remove everyone living in the residence. A tenant may avoid the difficulties of a writ of restitution by vacating the property and returning the keys to the landlord, which will end the tenant’s possession of the residence. A judgment will probably appear on a tenant’s credit report for several years. Parties wishing to appeal from a judgment have five days to do so after the judgment is entered.
 

INFO SHEET: AFTER AN EVICTION JUDGMENT