Missouri (MO) eviction guide
Quick answer
To evict a tenant in Missouri, serve the correct written notice (as short as 5 days for nonpayment of rent), then file a Rent and Possession action in Associate Circuit Court if the tenant does not comply. The full process from notice to lockout typically takes 3 to 6 weeks, depending on court scheduling and whether the tenant contests the case.
| Legal grounds | Nonpayment of rent, lease violation, illegal activity, holdover tenancy |
|---|---|
| Minimum notice | 5 days (nonpayment of rent) |
| Where to file | Associate Circuit Court |
| Filing fee | About $50 to $115 (varies by county) |
| Typical timeframe | 3 to 6 weeks |
Used for nonpayment of rent; gives the tenant 5 days to pay in full or vacate before the landlord can file in court.
Used for curable lease violations; the tenant has 10 days to fix the problem or move out.
Used for incurable violations or illegal activity; the tenant must vacate within 5 days with no option to cure.
Required to end a month-to-month or at-will tenancy with no fault; must be in writing under RSMo Section 441.060.
| Step | Timeframe | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Serve the Written Notice | Day 1 to 5 (or 10 or 30) | Deliver the correct notice by hand or certified mail and wait the full statutory period before filing. |
| 2. File a Rent and Possession Petition | 1 to 3 days | If the tenant does not comply, file a Rent and Possession (unlawful detainer) action at your county's Associate Circuit Court and pay the filing fee. |
| 3. Serve the Tenant with the Summons | 3 to 10 days | The court issues a summons; the sheriff or process server delivers it to the tenant, setting the hearing date. |
| 4. Attend the Court Hearing | 1 to 3 weeks after filing | Both parties present their case before the judge; if the landlord wins, the court issues a judgment for possession. |
| 5. Wait Out the Appeal Window | 10 days | The tenant has 10 days to appeal the judgment; if no appeal is filed, the landlord can request the writ of possession. |
| 6. Enforce the Writ of Possession | A few days after writ issues | The court issues the writ of possession and a sheriff or constable carries out the physical lockout; the tenant has 24 hours to vacate once the writ is served. |
Filing a Rent and Possession action in Missouri costs roughly $50 to $115 in court fees depending on the county, plus a $36 to $50 sheriff service fee per defendant. Adding attorney fees, process server costs, and the constable lockout fee, landlords typically spend $300 to $800 total for an uncontested eviction.
Once the 10-day appeal window closes with no appeal filed, the landlord applies to the clerk for a writ of possession. A sheriff or constable executes the writ and gives the tenant 24 hours to leave voluntarily before physically removing them and their belongings. Self-help eviction (changing locks, removing doors, or shutting off utilities without a court order) is illegal in Missouri and exposes the landlord to civil liability.
General information, not legal advice. Governing statute: RSMo Chapters 441 and 535 (Landlord-Tenant and Rent and Possession Actions). Self-help eviction is illegal everywhere; always follow the court process.
Missouri eviction FAQ
Most uncontested Missouri evictions take **3 to 6 weeks** from the day you serve notice to the day of lockout. A contested hearing or an appeal can stretch the timeline to **8 to 12 weeks** or more.
Expect to spend **$300 to $800** for a straightforward eviction, including the court filing fee (roughly $50 to $115), sheriff service, and constable lockout. Hiring an attorney adds **$500 to $1,500** or more depending on complexity.
No. Missouri law requires a court judgment before a tenant can be removed. Changing locks, removing belongings, or cutting utilities without a court order is illegal self-help eviction and can result in the landlord owing the tenant damages.
Evictions are filed in the **Associate Circuit Court** in the county where the rental property is located. The case is called a Rent and Possession action.
Yes, a tenant can stop an eviction by paying all overdue rent before judgment (if the landlord agrees to accept it), proving the notice was legally defective, or raising a valid defense such as retaliation or habitability failure at the hearing.
Revun screens tenants, automates rent reminders, and logs every notice, so fewer tenancies ever reach court.
