Uncontested: 21–45 days ·
Contested: 45–120 days · Under RSMo § 441 (Landlord and Tenant)
The Missouri eviction process requires a court-ordered judgment before a landlord can remove a tenant. Timeline figures below begin after the pre-filing notice period expires and the landlord files the complaint with the court. Add 3–60+ days for the applicable pre-filing notice period (pay-or-quit, cure-or-quit, or no-fault) depending on the eviction reason.
Pre-filing notice: Nonpayment of rent (rent-and-possession)
0 days
RSMo § 535.010
Pre-filing notice: Material lease violation (unlawful detainer)
10 days
RSMo § 441.060
Pre-filing notice: End of month-to-month tenancy
30 days
RSMo § 441.060
Court filing fee
$70–$180
RSMo § 441 (Landlord and Tenant)
Step-by-step Missouri eviction process
Day-by-day, every stage.
Each row's day-label is the cumulative start of that stage on the worst-case clock.
Pre-filingNoticeFileCourtLockout
Same day
1
Stage 1 · Gate
File rent-and-possession action
Day 1
No statutory pre-suit notice. RSMo Chapter 535. Filed in Associate Circuit Court. Filing fee $45-$90.
7–21d
2
Stage 2 · Serve
Service and 7-21 day hearing
Day 1
Sheriff or process server delivers. Hearing within 7-21 days of filing.
Same day
3
Stage 3 · File
Trial and judgment
Day 22
Bench trial. Same-day judgment in most cases. No notice exhibit needed for rent-and-possession cases.
10d
4
Stage 4 · Court
10-day post-judgment window
Day 22
Tenant may file motion to set aside or application for trial de novo within 10 days. Writ does not issue during this window even on uncontested cases.
5–14d
5
Stage 5 · Lockout
Writ of possession and sheriff lockout
Day 32
After 10-day window expires, landlord requests writ. Sheriff executes within 5-14 days. KC and St. Louis run slightly longer due to volume.
Day 46
✓
Possession recovered
Worst case · Day 46
Timelines begin at court filing, not notice service.
The Missouri timelines above start when the landlord files the eviction complaint with the court.
Add pre-filing notice periods (3–60 days depending on eviction reason) to get the full end-to-end timeline.
Self-help eviction, changing locks, removing belongings, or shutting off utilities, is illegal in Missouri and exposes the landlord to significant damages.
About this page. Researched and written by the NextGen Properties research team — the underwriters, asset managers, and acquisitions staff who have priced, bought, and operated rental property for more than two decades. Reviewed before publication by the NextGen Properties editorial desk. How we work: editorial guidelines · scoring methodology.
