Facing Eviction in Mississippi: What Can I Do?
This page covers eviction notices, the court case, paying to stop an eviction, and removal in Mississippi. It follows the steps in the order a renter meets them.
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If you materially (in an important way) break your lease by not paying rent, your landlord may give you a written notice. An email or text counts only if you agreed in writing to get notices that way. The notice must say the lease will end if the rent is not paid within 3 days.
✓ Sources checked October 3, 2026
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When a tenant materially (in an important way) breaks the lease, the landlord may give a written notice naming what was done wrong. An email or text counts only if the tenant agreed in writing to get notices that way. The lease ends on a date at least 14 days after the notice is received. It does not end if the problem can be fixed and is adequately fixed before that date. The fix must come within a reasonable time, up to 14 days.
✓ Sources checked October 3, 2026
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If your lease has an end date, it ends on that date. After that, your landlord may give you written notice that you are holding over (staying past the lease end). An email or text counts only if you agreed to get notices that way. The notice must say the landlord will start an eviction case no earlier than 3 days after it.
✓ Sources checked October 3, 2026
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To start an eviction case, your landlord must file a sworn affidavit or complaint (a written statement made under oath). It must state the facts that require removing the tenant. It must give the address of the home and any rent and fees owed. The landlord must also file a copy of the written notice delivered to you.
✓ Sources checked October 3, 2026
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After the landlord files, the court issues a summons (a court paper that tells you to respond). The summons commands you to move out immediately. Or it commands you to show cause before the judge on a day named in the summons. Show cause means to explain why the landlord should not get the home back.
✓ Sources checked October 3, 2026
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If you do not come to the eviction hearing, the court must give the landlord a default judgment (a win without hearing from you). This applies when the landlord filed the required papers and the summons was properly issued and served. The landlord must also be otherwise entitled to a judgment under the law.
✓ Sources checked October 3, 2026
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If you come to the hearing, the judge may find you did not present a valid defense or counterclaim (your own claim against the landlord). Then the court must give the landlord judgment (a final decision for the landlord). This applies when the landlord filed the required papers and is otherwise entitled to a judgment under the law.
✓ Sources checked October 3, 2026
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Either side may ask the court to delay the hearing. In a case to remove the tenant, no delay may push the whole hearing past 30 days from the date the eviction case was filed.
✓ Sources checked October 3, 2026
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The court may give your landlord a judgment (the court's final decision in your case) that the landlord gets the home back. Then the judge must order you to move out 7 days after the decision. The judge may set a shorter or longer time for an emergency or other compelling circumstances. Until the move-out date, you keep the same access to the home as your lease allowed.
✓ Sources checked October 3, 2026
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A judgment (the court's final decision) may give the landlord the home based only on unpaid rent. Then the judge may not issue a warrant for removal if you paid in full by the court-ordered move-out date. You must pay all unpaid rent and other sums the judgment awards. The judge also may not issue it if the landlord accepted that payment after that date. The landlord must accept full payment offered by that date in good faith.
✓ Sources checked October 3, 2026
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After the move-out date, your landlord may ask for a warrant for removal (an order for the sheriff or a constable to remove everyone). The judge must issue it right away when the landlord asks and pays the fees, except where the law bars it. Posting the warrant on the door does not carry it out.
✓ Sources checked October 3, 2026
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After law enforcement removes you, the landlord must give you reasonable access to the home for 72 hours. You can use it to get your personal property. After 72 hours, the landlord may move what is left to the curb, a garbage area, or another place agreed with you.
✓ Sources checked October 3, 2026
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An appeal from a final judgment (the court's final decision) in an eviction case must follow the Mississippi Rules of Court. An appeal asks a higher court to review the decision.
✓ Sources checked October 3, 2026
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