Has your landlord filed for eviction?

If you already received eviction paperwork it is important that you attend the court hearing. If the landlord is present but the tenant is not, the Judge will rule in the landlord’s favor.

Find info on your hearing date and location HERE

Free legal aid may be available. Contact the Legal Aid Society of Columbus before your hearing date (614) 241-2001

What to expect when you arrive at court:

Eviction hearings are held at the Franklin County Municipal Court building, located at 375 S. High St. You should arrive at court EARLY. The earlier you arrive to court, the likelier you will be able to take advantage of the resources available on the 11th floor.

Franklin County Municipal Court, Eviction Hearing Room

The first thing you should do is check in with the bailiff in the courtroom where your case will be heard; the bailiff’s desk is just to the right of where the magistrate judge sits at the front of the room.

After you have checked in, there are multiple agencies that may be able to provide you with assistance:

  • To speak with an attorney, you can apply to become a client of the Legal Aid Society of Columbus and get representation from an attorney for free by visiting the tables in between Courtrooms 11A and 11B. Applications for LASC are taken first come, first serve because Legal Aid cannot assist every tenant with an eviction hearing. They can provide at least advice on your case, or they can negotiate a settlement agreement for your case, or in some cases, they can represent a tenant at a hearing.

    • Please consider contacting Legal Aid before your court date.

  • If Legal Aid is full or if you would rather work with a mediator, you can speak with Community Mediation Services of Central Ohio; they are located at the table on the left just past Courtroom 11B. Mediators are neutral third parties familiar with the law whose job is to help you and your landlord work out an agreement without going before a judge.

  • If you have children in your home or are in your 3rd trimester of pregnancy, you can apply for Franklin County’s rental assistance available through their PRC program. They are located in a conference room outside courtroom 11D.

Additional Resources

Legal Assistance

Financial Assistance

Settlement Houses