What are the steps in a California unlawful detainer?

1) Serve appropriate notice (3-day pay-or-quit, cure-or-quit, or 30/60/90-day no-fault); 2) wait the notice period; 3) file UD complaint and pay filing fee; 4) serve summons; 5) tenant has 10 court days to answer (post-AB 2347); 6) default or trial; 7) judgment; 8) writ of possession; 9) sheriff lockout.

How long does it take?

Uncontested: 5–9 weeks notice to sheriff lockout (in 2026 after AB 2347 added time). Contested: 3–6 months. With habitability counterclaims or legal-aid involvement: 6+ months.

What's the AB 2347 change?

Effective January 1, 2025, AB 2347 extended the tenant's UD response window from 5 court days to 10. This added roughly a week to every UD timeline.

Can I represent myself?

Yes, but rarely advisable. UD procedure is procedurally rigid and the cost of an attorney is small relative to the cost of a defective UD. For corporations and LLCs, attorney representation is required in California courts.

What goes wrong most often?

Defective notices (amount overstatement, missing elements, wrong service), wrong notice type (cure-or-quit on incurable conduct), service of summons issues, and failure to address §1942.5 retaliation defenses on habitability-tinged cases.

California Unlawful Detainer Step by Step — The Complete UD Procedure

TL;DR

9 steps: notice → wait → file → serve summons → tenant 10 court days to answer (AB 2347) → default or trial → judgment → writ → sheriff lockout. 5–9 weeks uncontested in 2026. 3–6 months contested.

Serve the right notice

3-day pay/cure/unconditional, or 30/60/90 day no-fault. Defective notice ends the case.

Wait the notice period

3 business days for 3-day notices. 30/60/90 calendar days for terminations. Mailed service adds CCP §1013 time.

File the UD complaint

Superior Court in the county. Filing fees vary by amount. Attach notice and proof of service.

Serve the summons

Process server or sheriff. Not the landlord personally. Service must be proper.

Tenant answer window

10 court days under AB 2347 (effective Jan 1, 2025). Was 5; added roughly a week to every case.

Default or trial

No answer = default judgment (1–2 weeks). Answer = trial set within ~20 days.

Judgment

UD trial is bench trial. Landlord proves elements. Judgment for possession produces writ.

Writ of possession

Clerk issues writ. Landlord takes to sheriff.

Sheriff lockout

Sheriff posts 5-day notice. If tenant doesn't vacate, sheriff restores possession. OC adds 1–3 weeks for scheduling.

Common questions — UD step by step

The steps?

Notice → wait → file → serve → answer → default/trial → judgment → writ → lockout.

How long?

5–9 weeks uncontested, 3–6 months contested (2026).

AB 2347 change?

Tenant answer window extended from 5 to 10 court days effective Jan 2025.

Self-represent?

Rarely advisable. Required attorney for entities.

What goes wrong?

Defective notices, wrong notice type, summons service issues, retaliation defenses.

The California Unlawful Detainer, step by step. 2026 timeline.