St. Louis Eviction Court Steps 2026–27: Rent and Possession Cases, Deadlines, and Free Lawyers
Most St. Louis evictions for unpaid rent are filed as rent and possession cases under Chapter 535 of Missouri law. They move fast. The court date can be within weeks of filing, and a judgment becomes final 10 days after it's entered. Tenants usually lose their chance by missing one of those dates, not because their case was weak.
This guide follows a rent and possession case from start to finish and shows where you can still act. If you live in the City of St. Louis, you may also qualify for a free lawyer through the City's right-to-counsel program.
Last checked October 2026. Facts come from the Revised Statutes of Missouri (Chapters 441 and 535), the City of St. Louis Department of Human Services, and Legal Services of Eastern Missouri (LSEM). This is general information, not legal advice. Talk to a lawyer about your case.
Before Anything Else: Your Landlord Can't Lock You Out
Under RSMo 441.233, a landlord who removes you or your belongings without a court order, or removes the doors or locks, is guilty of forcible entry and detainer. The same law covers a landlord who willfully cuts off electric, gas, water, or sewer service (with a health and safety exception).
Only a court judgment, carried out by the sheriff, can lawfully remove you.
Step 1: The Landlord Files
Under RSMo 535.020, a landlord can file a rent and possession case when:
rent is due,
the landlord demanded it, and
it hasn't been paid.
The statute says the landlord doesn't have to give the notice in RSMo 441.060 before filing. Don't expect a long warning period.
The landlord can also add other unpaid amounts from the lease (not property damage). The statute says those extra charges aren't rent, and a judgment for them alone doesn't give the landlord possession.
Step 2: You're Served With a Summons
RSMo 535.030 sets the timing:
The summons must be served at least four days before the court date.
The court date is generally no more than 21 business days from when the summons is issued.
If the landlord uses posting and mailing instead of handing it to you, the summons must be posted on your door and mailed at least 10 days before the court date.
Important: If you're served only by posting and mailing and you don't show up, the statute says the court can't give the landlord a money judgment against you. It can still give possession. Not showing up is never safe.
What to do the day you get the summons:
Write down the court date, time, and courtroom.
Call for legal help the same day (see below).
Start gathering papers (see the checklist).
Step 3: Get Free Legal Help
City of St. Louis renters: HELP STL City. The City says its Housing Eviction Law Program (HELP STL City), also called Right to Counsel, started in August 2024 under City Ordinance 71694. The City contracts with LSEM to give free legal help to eligible low-income City residents at risk of eviction. LSEM decides the level of service based on the case.
The City says it mails information to everyone listed on the monthly eviction dockets. That mailing includes how to reach LSEM and DHS, plus a booklet called the Tenant Tool Kit. DHS staff can help you fill out court documents in person or by phone. They also attend weekly eviction dockets.
City DHS (HELP STL): (314) 657-1671 or (314) 657-1654.
St. Louis County and City renters: LSEM.
Call 314-534-4200 or 800-444-0514, or apply online at lsem.org.
LSEM says calls go to its Advocacy Referral Team. You can wait for an intake specialist or leave a message for a callback. LSEM says it tries to return calls within 3–5 business days.
Tell them your court date right away. With a hearing days away, mention it first.
LSEM offers interpreters. Ask on your first call.
Step 4: The Hearing
Under RSMo 535.040, the judge hears the case on the first available court date. If the judge finds the rent was due, demanded, and unpaid, and you haven't paid the rent plus court costs to the court at the hearing, the judge will give the landlord:
possession of the home, and
a money judgment for rent due and court costs.
Bring to court:
Your lease.
Rent receipts, money order stubs, bank or app records of every payment.
Texts, emails, and letters with the landlord.
Photos of repair problems, with dates, and copies of repair requests.
Proof of any rental assistance application or promise of payment.
Your summons.
Arrive early. Check in with the clerk. If a lawyer from LSEM is helping you, tell the clerk.
Paying to Stop the Case
RSMo 535.160 gives tenants a powerful option. If, on the date a money judgment is given, you pay the landlord or the court all the rent in arrears plus all the costs, the statute says further proceedings stop.
And if you pay the money judgment and all costs after the trial but before the judgment becomes final, the statute says execution for possession is stopped.
This only works if there's a money judgment. If the landlord sued for possession only, the statute says paying doesn't automatically stop it.
Ask about the exact amount (rent plus costs) from the clerk or your lawyer. Bring certified funds if you can.
Step 5: The 10-Day Window
RSMo 535.030(4): You have 10 days from the date of the judgment to:
file a motion to set aside the judgment (for example, if you missed court for a good reason), or
file an application for a trial de novo (a new trial of the case).
If you don't, the statute says the judgment for possession becomes final and you can be evicted without further notice.
Bond. Under RSMo 535.110, a trial de novo or appeal doesn't stop the eviction unless you post a bond within 10 days of the judgment. The bond must cover damages, costs, and rent then due. While the case is pending, you must also pay rent into court within 10 days after it comes due.
Step 6: The Sheriff
RSMo 535.040 says the officer must deliver possession to the landlord within five days of receiving the execution. Plan your move before this point. Belongings left behind after a court-ordered removal can be removed or disposed of by the landlord.
Unlawful Detainer Cases
If your lease ended or the landlord says you broke a lease rule (not unpaid rent), the case may be filed as an unlawful detainer under Chapter 534. The rules and deadlines differ. Ask LSEM.
Common Mistakes
Not going to court. You can lose by default.
Missing the 10-day window after judgment.
Paying the landlord in cash without a receipt.
Moving out without telling the court. You may still owe a money judgment.
Waiting for LSEM to call back without mentioning your court date.
Assuming a trial de novo stops the sheriff. It doesn't without a bond.
FAQ
How fast is a St. Louis eviction? The court date is generally no more than 21 business days from when the summons is issued, and the judgment becomes final 10 days after it's entered unless you act.
Does my landlord have to give me notice before filing? For unpaid rent, RSMo 535.020 says the notice in RSMo 441.060 isn't required.
Can I stop the case by paying? RSMo 535.160 says paying all rent in arrears and all costs on the date a money judgment is given stops further proceedings.
Who gives free eviction help in the City of St. Louis? HELP STL City, through LSEM. Call the City's DHS at (314) 657-1671 or (314) 657-1654, or LSEM at 314-534-4200.
I live in St. Louis County. Is HELP STL available? HELP STL City is for City of St. Louis residents. County residents can still apply to LSEM.
Related Guides
Sources
RSMo 535.020: https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=535.020
RSMo 535.030: https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=535.030
RSMo 535.040: https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=535.040
RSMo 535.110: https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=535.110
RSMo 535.160: https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=535.160
RSMo 441.233: https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=441.233
City of St. Louis, Housing Eviction Law Program: https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/departments/human-services/help-stl/index.cfm
Legal Services of Eastern Missouri, Get Help Now: https://lsem.org/get-help-now/
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