Missouri Eviction Notice Template (RSMo § 535.020)
Before a landlord can file an eviction case, most states require a written notice that tells the tenant what is wrong and how long they have to fix it or move out. Answer the questions below to create a clear, professional notice — then check it against your state and local rules before you serve it.
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Free to preview[Landlord or property manager name]
[Your address and phone for the tenant to reach you]
October 15, 2026
To: [Tenant name(s)]
and all other occupants of
[Rental property address]
Re: [Type of notice] — [Rental property address]
Dear [Tenant name(s)],
This letter is formal written notice to you as the tenant of the property at [Rental property address]. Type of notice: [Type of notice].
The reason for this notice is as follows:
[Reason for this notice]
Within [Notice period in days] days after this notice is delivered to you, you must [What the tenant must do within that time]. If this notice is delivered to you on October 15, 2026, that period ends on October 15, 2026.
This notice is given under Missouri law, including RSMo § 535.020, which allows a landlord to file for rent and possession after rent is due and payment has been demanded.
If you do not do so within that time, I intend to file an eviction case with the court to recover possession of the property. You will have the opportunity to respond in court, and you may not be removed from the property unless a court orders it. I will not remove you or your belongings or change the locks without a court order.
If you have questions about this notice, or wish to discuss payment or resolving the issue, please contact me in writing at the address above.
Sincerely,
[Landlord or property manager name]
Date this notice was delivered: ____________________
Method of delivery: ____________________
Delivered by: ____________________
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How eviction notices work in Missouri
Missouri landlords can file a rent and possession case under RSMo § 535.020 once rent is due and has been demanded; state law doesn't set a waiting period after the demand. Under RSMo §§ 441.030 and 441.040, if a tenant violates the conditions of a written lease, assigns or sublets without written consent, commits waste, or allows certain illegal activity on the property, the landlord may give 10 days' notice to vacate. A month-to-month tenancy ends with written notice ending on a rent due date at least one month after it is received, under § 441.060.
Although the statute doesn't require the rent demand to be in writing, a dated written notice stating the amount owed and a deadline creates a clear record. Notices for lease violations and month-to-month terminations should be in writing, state the reason or termination date, and be delivered in a way you can prove. The month-to-month notice under § 441.060 isn't required before filing a rent and possession case.
If the tenant doesn't pay or leave, the landlord files with an associate circuit judge in the county where the property is located. In a rent and possession case, a tenant who tenders all rent due and court costs at the hearing stops the case. Under RSMo § 441.233, a landlord who removes or locks out a tenant without a court order, or cuts off electric, gas, water or sewer service, is guilty of forcible entry and detainer. The officer named in the court's execution delivers possession to the landlord.
What to do, step by step
Check your state and local rules first
Look up the notice period, required wording and delivery method for your state, county and city. Many places set different periods for unpaid rent, lease violations and ending a tenancy, and some cities add their own just-cause rules.
Fill in the notice
Answer the questions above. Name every adult tenant on the lease, state the facts plainly and enter the exact number of days your rules require.
Serve it the way your state requires
States specify how a notice must be delivered — commonly hand delivery, leaving it with an adult at the home, posting and mailing, or certified mail. A notice served the wrong way may have to be redone.
Record how and when you served it
Write down the date, time, method and who delivered it, and keep a copy of the notice. Courts often ask for this proof of service.
Wait out the full notice period
Don't change the locks, remove belongings or shut off utilities. If the tenant fixes the problem, accept it as your rules require; if not, the next step is filing an eviction case in court.
What if the tenant doesn't respond to the notice?
An eviction notice is not an eviction. It is the written warning most states require before you can go to court. If the notice period ends and the tenant hasn't paid, fixed the violation or moved out, the next step is to file an eviction case — often called an unlawful detainer or summary possession case — with your local court.
Until a judge rules in your favor and a court officer such as a sheriff or marshal carries out the order, the tenant has the right to stay. Changing the locks, removing the tenant's belongings, cutting off utilities or otherwise forcing them out is a so-called self-help eviction, which is illegal in nearly every state and can expose you to damages.
Courts look closely at the notice itself. If the period was too short, the wording missed something your state requires or it was delivered the wrong way, the case can be dismissed and you may have to start over. Your local court's self-help center or a landlord association can tell you what your court expects.
Example Missouri eviction notice
A filled-in sample with made-up details, so you can see the finished result.
Greenway Rentals LLC
PO Box 2210, Lakeview, MN 55401 · (555) 201-4478
October 5, 2026
To: Taylor Brooks and Jamie Brooks
and all other occupants of
56 Willow St, Unit 3, Lakeview, MN 55402
Re: Notice to pay rent or quit — 56 Willow St, Unit 3, Lakeview, MN 55402
Dear Taylor Brooks and Jamie Brooks,
This letter is formal written notice to you as the tenant of the property at 56 Willow St, Unit 3, Lakeview, MN 55402. Type of notice: Notice to pay rent or quit.
The reason for this notice is as follows:
Rent of $1,450 for the month of September 2026, due on September 1, 2026, has not been paid, despite a reminder sent by email on September 10.
The total amount of rent now due is $1,450.00.
Within 14 days after this notice is delivered to you, you must pay the full amount of rent owed or move out of the property. If this notice is delivered to you on October 5, 2026, that period ends on October 19, 2026.
This notice is given under Missouri law, including RSMo § 535.020, which allows a landlord to file for rent and possession after rent is due and payment has been demanded.
If you do not do so within that time, I intend to file an eviction case with the court to recover possession of the property. You will have the opportunity to respond in court, and you may not be removed from the property unless a court orders it. I will not remove you or your belongings or change the locks without a court order.
If you have questions about this notice, or wish to discuss payment or resolving the issue, please contact me in writing at the address above.
Sincerely,
Greenway Rentals LLC
Date this notice was delivered: ____________________
Method of delivery: ____________________
Delivered by: ____________________
Frequently asked questions
Does Missouri require a notice before filing for unpaid rent?
Missouri law requires a demand for the rent, but it doesn't set a specific waiting period or require the demand to be in writing. Many landlords still give a written notice with a deadline, which helps show the demand was made and gives the tenant a chance to pay.
What notice applies to lease violations in Missouri?
Under RSMo §§ 441.030 and 441.040, a violation of the conditions of a written lease, an assignment or sublease without written consent, waste, or certain illegal activity allows the landlord to give 10 days' notice to vacate. Missouri law doesn't provide a general right to cure, though the lease may.
How much notice ends a Missouri month-to-month tenancy?
Written notice stating that the tenancy ends on a rent due date at least one month after the tenant receives it, under RSMo § 441.060. For example, if rent is due on the first, notice received in mid-March generally ends the tenancy at the end of April. Missouri has no statewide just-cause requirement.
Can a Missouri tenant stop a rent and possession case by paying?
Often, yes. Under RSMo §§ 535.040 and 535.160, a tenant who pays all rent due plus court costs at the hearing, or by the date the money judgment is given, stops further proceedings in the rent and possession case. That differs from a case for lease violations, where payment doesn't automatically end the case.
How much notice do I have to give a tenant?
It depends on your state, sometimes your city, the type of notice and the lease. Periods for unpaid rent can be as short as a few days or as long as a month, and notices ending a month-to-month tenancy are often 30 days or more. Check your state's landlord-tenant law and any local ordinance before serving.
Is an eviction notice the same as being evicted?
No. A notice only starts the process. If the tenant doesn't comply, the landlord must file a case in court and win a judgment. Only a court order, carried out by a sheriff, marshal or similar officer, can legally remove a tenant from the property.
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