Should I self-serve an eviction, or get legal help? (Adams County, CO)

[Trevor Davis]

Hello, 

I have a small multi-unit rental in Adams County, Colorado.  I have a tenant that is not paying rent, and won't answer phone calls or texts, so I need to start the eviction process.  The process is new to me, but it doesn't seem all that complicated (link below).  Should I just follow the instructions and do it myself, or is it advisable to hire legal help?  How much time and money should I expect the eviction to cost?  Any insights would be appreciated.

https://www.adamssheriff.org/sites/default/files/2018-03/evi...

[Greg Scott]

Assuming you have already provided the late notice, which is something you should do, I recommend finding a lawyer that focuses on evictions at your jurisdiction and just hire them to do the eviction. 

Why?:
- The costs can be recharged to the tenant. Yes, unlikely, but there is a chance to collect.
- They have a working relationship with the court personnel, which always helps.
- They know the process cold, so shouldn't make a newbie errors.
- They are arms-length.  It is easy to get upset as an owner, but cooler-heads are better.