Serving and Responding to the Rule to Vacate

You have ten days from when you are served with the Rule to Vacate or Show Cause to respond to it.  IF YOU DO NOT RESPOND TO THE RULE, YOU WILL LOSE THE EVICTION CASE AUTOMATICALLY.  

Knowing when you were served is very important, but the rules that determine when you get served are complex.  When in doubt, you can call the Magistrate's Court and ask the clerk, "Do you show a date of service for this Rule in your system?  If so, what is the date of service?" 

There are two methods for serving a Rule: IN PERSON and BY MAIL.  In person must be attempted first, and if no one is found at the unit after two service attempts are made, then the clerk of the magistrate court can mail the Rule.