Evicting a tenant is an unfortunate reality of being a landlord. The reasons for eviction are varied, with the most common, of course, being failure to pay the rent. Other reasons include violating the lease agreement, committing a crime on the premises or causing harm to others or the property.

Whatever the reason, evictions aren’t pleasant. But if a tenant is causing problems, you need to get them out as soon as you can to protect your investment, using the right process to ensure your case is airtight.

And it is a process, so it’s important to understand all the steps needed to evict a tenant — and to document every interaction leading up to serving notice. Not following local laws can invite serious troubles of your own. Meeting with an experienced landlord-tenant lawyer is a productive first step, especially if you have never dealt with the eviction process.

The eviction notice itself — also sometimes called a notice to vacate or notice to quit — is the first step in the actual eviction process. You must give proper notification, which can vary based on the circumstance. In many jurisdictions, the document must be formally served to the tenant.

Gathering the right documents — and documenting your need for them in the first place — makes an unpleasant task just a little bit easier.

Learn more about the landlord-tenant laws in your state