Eviction Workshop Aims To Unclog Courts

In the hope of streamlining the court system for landlords and tenants dealing with evictions, the Riverside Superior Court system is holding workshops in the area – including the .

On Tuesday, paralegal Heather Gonzales was at the library conducting a free eviction workshop for the public.

“We’re trying to prevent defective cases and alleviate congestion in the courts,” Gonzales said.

Duke Bushfield of Wildomar owns several rental properties and is anticipating having to evict a tenant soon. He hasn’t had to deal with an eviction for 20 years so he attended Tuesday’s workshop.

His previous eviction, where he used the services of a lawyer, had taken about two months and was pricey.

“I’m worried they’ll string this thing out,” said Bushfield, “so I want the right information.”

Prior to the U.S. economic woes, most people took for granted having a roof over their heads, and landlords anticipated a return on rental property investments. All that has changed and the result has been evictions, but it can be a confusing process for both parties, Gonzales said.

Gonzales holds two seminars per month throughout the county: one for tenants fighting eviction and another for landlords attempting to remove tenants.

Prior to holding the seminars, court cases clogged the system due to incorrect paperwork or procedural errors on both sides, Gonzales said. Since the free county workshops and online self-help system started up, there has been a 90 percent improvement in getting the cases through the system, she added.

The online self-help system is available at http://www.riverside.courts.ca.gov/selfhelp/self-help.shtml. In addition to eviction information, the site includes civil law, domestic violence, family law and small claims information targeted to people who utilize the judicial system with the aid of a lawyer. The site also has forms that can be filled out online.

During Tuesday’s landlord workshop, Gonzales provided a detailed Powerpoint presentation along with a table of forms for attendees. She also provided a simple chart showing eviction procedures in detail.

Most landlords can, if the paperwork is correct and the tenant cooperates or does not answer the complaint, get an eviction within 30 days, Gonzales said. Legally, tenants can be served with as little as a three-day notice and the main reason they face immediate eviction is that they do not answer the notice within the prescribed time. Filing fees for tenants range between $255 and $410. The fee alone can cause tenants to be unresponsive if they are not aware of the assistance available.

Tenant seminars can be especially helpful for people who are being evicted by a bank that has foreclosed on the rental property they live in, Gonzales said.

Landlords, on the other hand, may be dealing with tenants who are familiar with the system and know how to delay eviction through the courts.  

In addition to the tenant/landlord workshops, Gonzales also holds seminars on small claims at the Southwest Detention Center in Murrieta.

For more information on the workshops, contact Heather Gonzales at 951-955-9365 or email heather.gonzales@riverside.courts.ca.gov.