How long does an eviction take in Mississippi? For most renters, the answer is about 3 to 5 weeks from the first written notice to the day an officer can remove you. If the landlord uses a 30-day no-cause notice, it is closer to 6 to 8 weeks. So how long does an eviction take in Mississippi for you? It depends on which stage your landlord has reached and what kind of notice you got.
- How Long Does an Eviction Take in Mississippi: Stage by Stage
- The Mississippi Notice Period: Where the Clock Starts
- From Filing to Hearing in Mississippi
- Judgment, Writ, and Lockout: How Long Does an Eviction Take in Mississippi at the End
- What Makes a Mississippi Eviction Faster or Slower
- Frequently Asked Questions
How Long Does an Eviction Take in Mississippi: Stage by Stage
A Mississippi eviction is a court process with several steps. Your landlord cannot change the locks, cut off utilities, or remove your things on their own. Each step has its own clock. As a result, how long does an eviction take in mississippi really means “how long does each stage take, added together?”
The table below lists each stage and the Mississippi law behind it. When the law sets no fixed number, we say so. We also give the usual range. Knowing how long does an eviction take in mississippi at each step helps you plan your next move.
| Stage | Days in Mississippi | Mississippi law or rule |
|---|---|---|
| Notice for unpaid rent | 3 days after written notice | Miss. Code § 89-8-13(3) |
| Notice for a lease violation | 14 days, with a chance to fix it | Miss. Code § 89-8-13(1) |
| Repeat violation within 6 months | 14 days, with no chance to fix it | Miss. Code § 89-8-13(2) |
| No-cause notice (month-to-month) | 30 days (7 days if week-to-week) | Miss. Code § 89-8-19 |
| Filing in court | No fixed number. Usually 1 to 5 days after the notice ends | Miss. Code § 89-8-33 |
| Service of the summons | No fixed number. Usually within a few days of filing | Miss. Code § 89-8-35 |
| Hearing date | At least 5 days after the summons issues | Miss. Code § 89-8-35 |
| Delays (adjournments) | No single delay over 10 days. The hearing cannot run past 30 days from filing | Miss. Code § 89-8-41 |
| Judgment | Signed the same business day it is granted | Miss. Code § 89-8-37 |
| Move-out date | 7 days after judgment, unless the judge sets a shorter or longer time | Miss. Code § 89-8-39 |
| Warrant of removal and lockout | No fixed number. Usually 1 to 7 days after the move-out date | Miss. Code § 89-8-39 |
| Getting your belongings after lockout | 72 hours of reasonable access | Miss. Code § 89-8-39 |
The Mississippi Notice Period: Where the Clock Starts
In most cases, the eviction clock starts with a written notice. If you owe rent, Mississippi requires only 3 days’ written notice under Miss. Code § 89-8-13. That is one of the shortest notice periods in the country. So how long does an eviction take in mississippi for unpaid rent? It is often faster than people expect.
A lease violation works differently. For example, having an unauthorized pet or making too much noise can bring a 14-day notice. You usually get a chance to fix the problem within those 14 days. However, if the same kind of violation happens again within 6 months, the landlord can end the lease on 14 days’ notice with no second chance. For month-to-month renters, a no-cause notice must give 30 days under § 89-8-19.
The notice should be in writing and say why the lease is ending. A lease-violation notice should also say what you did wrong. If the notice is missing, too short, or unclear, you may be able to raise that at the hearing. As a result, the landlord may have to start over. That can add days or weeks to how long does an eviction take in mississippi.
From Filing to Hearing in Mississippi
After the notice period ends, the landlord files a sworn complaint. Most Mississippi evictions go to justice court. Some go to county court. The court then issues a summons telling you when to appear. An officer or process server delivers it. If you cannot be found, the papers may be posted on your door (Miss. Code § 89-8-35).
Mississippi does not use a written-answer deadline the way many states do. Instead, your deadline is the hearing date on the summons. The hearing must be set at least 5 days after the summons issues. Typically, it falls 7 to 14 days after filing. However, if you miss it, the judge must enter a default judgment against you under § 89-8-37.
So how long does an eviction take in mississippi between filing and a hearing? Usually one to two weeks. The judge can delay the case, but no single delay can be longer than 10 days. Also, the case cannot run more than 30 days from filing (§ 89-8-41). As a result, how long does an eviction take in mississippi rarely stretches much past a month in court.
Judgment, Writ, and Lockout: How Long Does an Eviction Take in Mississippi at the End
If the judge rules for the landlord, you typically get 7 days to move out (§ 89-8-39). The judge can shorten that for a health or safety emergency. The judge can also give you more time for other compelling reasons. Until the move-out date, you keep the same access to your home you had under the lease.
In a case based only on unpaid rent, you have an important protection. The judge cannot issue a warrant of removal if you pay everything the judgment awards by the move-out date. That protection also applies if the landlord accepts full payment after that date. If you do not pay, the landlord can ask for the warrant. Then a sheriff or constable carries it out, usually within a few days. After the lockout, you get 72 hours of reasonable access to remove your belongings.
You may also be able to appeal. Justice court civil appeals generally must be filed within 10 days with a bond under Miss. Code § 11-51-85. However, some eviction appeals have shorter deadlines. Ask the clerk the same day you get the judgment. This last stage decides how long does an eviction take in mississippi for most families. It is also the stage where acting fast matters most.
What Makes a Mississippi Eviction Faster or Slower
Several things change the timeline. Busy courts in places like Hinds, Harrison, and DeSoto counties may set hearings further out. Missing your hearing is the biggest thing that speeds up a case. It leads to an automatic default judgment. For example, a tenant who skips court could face lockout about 2 weeks after filing.
Showing up helps. You can raise a bad notice, improper service, or retaliation as a defense. Paying the full judgment by the move-out date can stop a nonpayment eviction. Rental help may also be available through local community action agencies or HUD’s Mississippi renter resources. Many tenants in Mississippi can find free help through Mississippi Legal Services. That can change how long does an eviction take in mississippi, and whether it ends in a lockout at all.
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If you are facing an active eviction, call a local legal-aid office or tenant attorney now. Do not wait until the hearing. Even one day of preparation can make a real difference. The Cornell Legal Information Institute also explains common eviction terms in plain English.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does an eviction take in Mississippi if I owe rent?
In most cases, 3 to 5 weeks. That includes a 3-day notice, about 1 to 2 weeks until the hearing, a 7-day move-out period, and a few days for the warrant. Paying the full judgment by the move-out date can stop the removal.
Can my landlord lock me out without going to court?
No. A Mississippi landlord needs a court judgment and a warrant of removal carried out by a sheriff or constable. If your landlord changes the locks or removes your things on their own, contact legal aid right away.
Does a no-cause notice change how long does an eviction take in mississippi?
Yes. A month-to-month tenant must get 30 days’ notice under § 89-8-19. After the court steps are added, the total is typically 6 to 8 weeks.
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Sources & How to Verify
The rules on this page are drawn from official government and legal-aid sources. Tenant law changes, so always confirm the exact rule with your state’s statute or a local legal-aid office.
- HUD: hud.gov — federal renter protections and fair housing
- Legal Services Corporation: lsc.gov — find free legal aid in your state
- Cornell Legal Information Institute: law.cornell.edu/wex — plain-English legal definitions
- Your state statute & court self-help portal: search “[your state] landlord tenant act” and “[your state] court self-help eviction” for the exact law and forms
Content last reviewed September 2026. If you notice outdated information, please contact us.
Mississippi Renter Guides
- How Long an Eviction Takes in Every State
- Mississippi Eviction Process
- Mississippi Tenant Rights
- Mississippi Security Deposit Law
- Mississippi Rent Increase Laws
- Mississippi Repairs and Habitability
- Breaking a Lease in Mississippi
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Informational only — not legal advice. Tenant Rights Info is an independent educational resource, not a law firm, and this page does not provide legal advice. Landlord-tenant law varies by state and city and changes over time, so always verify the exact rule with your state’s statute, your local court’s self-help portal, or a legal-aid office. For urgent situations like an active eviction, contact a local legal-aid office or a licensed tenant attorney in your state right away.