Eviction attorneys working in Fort Worth

[Lallu Tappu]

I am in the unfortunate situation where one of my tenants in a fourplex has completely stopped paying rent. They claim that the head of the household is hospitalized and is unable to work so they are unable to pay the rent for now. The neighbors do corroborate the story so I was a little lenient the first month. Since then, all I've heard are sob stories and misdirects on how some other relative is going to pay the rent and they reach out and make all kinds of promises but it's now 4 months and I have not seen a penny in rent. I am sure I have waited way too long but I want to get this done right and would prefer professional help. Are there any attorneys/individuals/companies that you would recommend that could help me in this situation and even help with recuperating some of the lost rent?

[John Chapman]

I'm a local attorney and I can tell you that eviction is a very easy process and does not require the use of an attorney.  Most JP Courts in Tarrant County have  eviction forms on their websites with very easy instructions.  You see all sorts of landlords doing this process themselves.  Good chance you won't even have to show up.  90% chance your tenants will bail before the hearing and 95% chance they will not show up.  

As for recuperating lost rent, I'd give up on that idea.  Collection laws are not good and the tenants are almost certainly judgment proof (if they had money, they'd probably pay the rent).  Most likely the best you can hope for is to get them out cordially and hopefully minimize the damage to the unit.