Free Eviction Notice Template
Create an eviction notice for nonpayment, a lease violation, or to end a month-to-month tenancy. Pick the notice and your state, fill in the details, and download a ready-to-serve PDF — with your state's required notice period built in.
Tenant Name(s)
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⚠ Alabama requires a 7-day notice for a notice to pay rent or quit; the count runs from the date of SERVICE, and some states exclude weekends/holidays — verify before relying on a date. 7 BUSINESS days, not calendar days. Under Ala. Code 35-9A-421(b), if rent is unpaid when due, the landlord may deliver written notice specifying the rent (and any late fees) owed and stating the rental agreement terminates on a date not less than 7 business days after the tenant receives the notice. If the tenant pays/remedies in full within those 7 business days, the tenancy continues. If a single set of facts triggers both 421(a) and 421(b), the 421(b) nonpayment 7-business-day notice governs. There is no separate statutory grace period; the due date is set by the lease.
Notice to Pay Rent or Quit (Alabama)
NOTICE TO PAY RENT OR QUIT
Date of Notice: ________________
From (Landlord/Agent): [LANDLORD/AGENT NAME], [LANDLORD ADDRESS]
To: [TENANT NAME(S)], Tenant(s) in possession of: [PROPERTY ADDRESS]
YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that rent is now due and unpaid in the amount of $________. This amount is for unpaid RENT only and excludes late fees, utilities, and other charges unless your state and lease allow them.
You are required to PAY the full amount of rent due within 7 days after this notice is served on you, OR to vacate and surrender possession of the property. Payment must be made to [LANDLORD/AGENT NAME] at [LANDLORD ADDRESS], by cash, check, or money order. If you mail payment, it must be RECEIVED by the deadline.
If you do not comply with this notice within the time stated, the landlord may begin legal proceedings to recover possession of the property under Ala. Code 35-9A-421 (noncompliance with rental agreement; failure to pay rent) and 35-9A-441 (periodic tenancy; holdover remedies), Alabama Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act, Title 35, Chapter 9A.
Only a court can order you to move out. The landlord may NOT lock you out, remove your belongings, or shut off your utilities; doing so is illegal.
This notice is given without waiving, and the landlord expressly reserves, all other rights and remedies, including the right to recover unpaid rent and damages.
How this notice may be served: The Act requires written notice 'delivered' to the tenant, and the 421 notice periods run from the tenant's RECEIPT ('after receipt of the notice'). Note that the general notice-receipt rules in Ala. Code 35-9A-144 expressly DO NOT apply to a notice to terminate a tenancy or evict a tenant (35-9A-144(e)). Service of the eviction (unlawful detainer) action and related termination notices is governed by the eviction-action statute (35-9A-461) and the Alabama Rules of Civil Procedure / unlawful detainer service rules, which contemplate personal service or, where the tenant cannot be found, posting a copy on the premises door plus first-class mail by the sheriff/process server (service by posting complete as of the date of mailing). Best practice is personal delivery plus first-class mail and documenting the receipt date. (The spec's prior citation to 35-9A-161 was incorrect; 35-9A-161 covers terms and conditions of the rental agreement, not service.)
_______________________________________
[LANDLORD/AGENT NAME] — Landlord / Authorized Agent
[LANDLORD ADDRESS]
Date: ________________
PROOF OF SERVICE
I served this notice on the tenant(s) on ____________ (date).
Method of service (use a method permitted in your state — see the service note above):
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________ Date: ____________
Signature of person serving the notice
Email yourself a copy (PDF)
This is a self-help template, not legal advice. Eviction is strictly regulated: notice periods, wording, and service rules vary by state and city, and you generally cannot remove a tenant yourself — you must serve a proper notice and, if needed, file in court. Confirm your local requirements (and any rent-control or just-cause rules) before serving.
Types of Eviction Notice
Eviction Notice by State
Each state page shows that state's required notice periods and rules.
How Eviction Notices Work
An eviction notice is the required first step before a landlord can file an eviction lawsuit. It tells the tenant what is wrong (unpaid rent, a lease violation) and how many days they have to fix it or move out. If the tenant does not comply, the landlord can ask a court for an order of possession — but only a court (and sheriff/constable) can actually remove a tenant. Serving a defective notice, or using "self-help" like changing the locks, can get an eviction thrown out and expose the landlord to liability.
The notice period is set by state law and depends on the reason. Nonpayment notices are usually short (often 3–14 days); no-cause terminations of a month-to-month tenancy are longer (often 30–60 days). This generator fills in the correct period for the state and notice you choose.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many days notice do I have to give to evict?
It depends on the state and the reason. Nonpayment-of-rent notices are commonly 3 to 14 days; no-cause terminations of a month-to-month tenancy are commonly 30 to 60 days. The generator uses your state's required period for the notice type you pick.
Can I evict a tenant without going to court?
No. You must serve a proper written notice, and if the tenant does not comply you must file an eviction case in court. Only a court order (enforced by a sheriff or constable) can remove a tenant. Locking out a tenant or removing their belongings is illegal "self-help" in nearly every state.
What is the difference between "pay or quit" and "cure or quit"?
A "pay or quit" notice is for unpaid rent — pay the balance or leave. A "cure or quit" notice is for a fixable lease violation — correct the violation or leave. An "unconditional quit" notice gives no chance to fix the problem and is used for serious or repeated violations.
Do I need a reason to end a month-to-month tenancy?
In most states you can end a month-to-month tenancy without cause by giving the required notice (often 30 days). But a growing number of states and cities require "just cause," limiting no-fault terminations — your state page notes whether that applies.