Eviction Process Adams County, CO (Information)

[Bill Coleman]

I am posting this for people that might be wondering about the exact process for eviction in Adams County, Colorado. 

1. Post 3-day notice (take photo of notice on door)

2. After 3-day notice has expired, file three forms (found online) at window #8 at the county courthouse in Brighton, CO.You will receive the court date at that time. 

3. Serve notice to tenants. You have to serve notice 7 days prior to the court date but you will also need to give the service company about 5 days to serve the notice. If they don't serve the notice in person and physically hand the notice to the resident, then you can only get a judgement for possession and not for monetary damages. So it's really important that the server has ample time to serve the tenant in person.

4. You must also mail registered/certified court forms to the tenants to arrive approx 5 days prior to the court date.

5. Go to court. This is where you need to prove your case only if the tenant shows up. Generally they don't and you win by default through the clerk. You never even see the judge.

6. The moment you win, you need to complete a writ of restitution with an accompanying check for the cost to have the sheriff come out to oversee the eviction. This writ gives you the right to enter your property and remove the tenant's contents. This is filed again at window 8 in the Brighton courthouse. You can get the cost of the sheriff by calling the Adams County Sheriff's dept. 

7. Take the writ after validation at the courthouse directly to the Adam's Country Sheriff which is a couple miles from the courthouse. Bring a check to the court appearance so you can immediately schedule the eviction with the sheriff - it will save you from having to make two trips out there. The sheriff's dept will assign a sheriff and he/she will call you to schedule the exact day and time. Typically the sheriff will put a note on the door letting them know they are being evicted so that will take another couple days. 

8. When you speak with the sheriff, it's important to find out how many movers he requires, how full the house is with stuff, could the tenant become dangerous, are there kids on the premises, are there pets on the premises, etc. He will also require you to bring trash bags and boxes. You will move everything to where the sheriff designates is a good spot and it will remain there for 72 hours until which time you can dispose of it. 

9. Finally you get your house back!

Hope this is helpful!

[Bill Coleman]

Generally this process takes a month if it goes smoothly and costs a little under $1000 if you do it yourself.