Simple English definitions for legal terms
Read a random definition: Service of Process
A pay or quit notice is a warning that a landlord gives to a tenant who has broken the rules of their lease, usually by not paying rent. The notice tells the tenant that they have a certain amount of time, usually three days, to either pay the rent they owe or move out of the rental property. If the tenant doesn't do either of these things, the landlord can start the process of legally evicting them.
A pay or quit notice is a legal document that a landlord serves to a tenant who has breached the lease agreement, typically by not paying rent on time. The notice demands that the tenant either pay the overdue rent within a specified period, usually 3 days, or vacate the premises.
If the tenant fails to comply with the notice, the landlord may file a lawsuit for eviction. The pay or quit notice is the first step in the eviction process and serves as a warning to the tenant that legal action may be taken if they do not rectify the situation.
John is a tenant who has not paid his rent for the past two months. His landlord, Jane, serves him a pay or quit notice, demanding that he pay the overdue rent within three days or vacate the premises. John fails to comply with the notice, and Jane files a lawsuit for eviction.
In this example, the pay or quit notice is served to John because he breached the lease agreement by not paying rent on time. The notice gives John the option to either pay the overdue rent or vacate the premises. Since John fails to comply with the notice, Jane has the legal right to file a lawsuit for eviction.