To evict you from your home, a landlord must file a lawsuit and obtain a court order. Usually, the landlord will file either a rent and possession lawsuit or an unlawful detainer lawsuit. You will know if either a rent and possession or unlawful detainer lawsuit has been filed against you when you receive a summons to court.

Rent and possession

• Contained within Chapter 535 of Missouri Revised Statutes.
• Landlord is stating that the tenant owes rent. Landlord is asking for possession of the property to be returned to them and whatever money is owed by the tenant.
• Filed in Associate Circuit Court.
• Landlord must issue a demand for rent; however, filing a case will count as a demand for the rent.

Unlawful detainer

• Contained in Chapter 534 of Missouri Revised Statutes
• Filed when a tenant has remained in the home after their tenancy has ended or demand for possession has been made.
• Typically filed when a landlord is stating that a tenant has violated their lease.
• Filed in Associate Circuit Court.
• If the tenant is still in the lease term, notice of the lease termination must be given prior to filing.

Expedited evictions

• Contained in Chapter 441 of Missouri Revised Statutes
• Filed when a landlord believes that a tenant is performing criminal actions such as making or selling drugs and/or running a brothel on the property being leased.
• Filed in Associate Circuit Court
• Has a faster time frame to trial than all of the previous forms of evictions.

Ejectment

• Contained within Chapter 524 of Missouri Revised Statutes
• The least common form of eviction.
• Can be filed in Associate Circuit Court if filed with other actions, but also can be filed in Circuit Court.
• If filed alone, follows similar procedural rules as other civil actions.