Missouri Eviction Notice
Create a proper Missouri eviction notice — pay-or-quit, cure-or-quit, or termination — and download a print-ready PDF. Free, no signup. The preview updates as you type.
Maintained by Rapi Stack · Every state-specific figure on this page is cited to its statute or official agency page · Dataset last verified 2026 · Not legal advice.
What happens after the notice in Missouri
If the tenant does not comply, the eviction moves to court. These are Missouri’s own rules for that step, from the judiciary and the statute.
- What the case is called. In Missouri an eviction lawsuit is a(n) Rent and possession (Ch. 535) / unlawful detainer (Ch. 534) action. — RSMo § 534.030, eff. 28 Aug 2009 ↗
- Where to file. If the tenant doesn’t comply with the notice, the landlord files in the Associate Circuit Court (associate circuit judge of the county where the property is located). — RSMo § 535.020 (rent and possession) and § 534.060 (unlawful detainer), eff. 28 Aug 2009/current ↗
- No self-help. RSMo § 441.233: landlord who removes/excludes tenant without court order, removes doors/locks, or interrupts essential services (electric, gas, water, sewer) is deemed guilty of forcible entry and detainer — RSMo § 441.233, eff. 28 Aug 1997 (L. 1997 H.B. 361) ↗
Each point links to the Missouri source it was taken from. Rules change; confirm before relying on them.
Missouri notice periods · as of 2026
- Non-payment of rent
- No fixed statutory notice
- Lease violation (cure)
- 10 days
- End month-to-month
- 30 days
Source: Mo. Rev. Stat. §§ 441.040, 441.060; ch. 535 · verify ↗. Using the wrong number can void the notice — confirm the current rule before you serve it.
Need the document itself?
Fill in a Missouri eviction notice and download a print-ready PDF — free, no signup, and it runs entirely in your browser.
Open the generator →The generator opens with Missouri already selected.
Types of eviction notice
- Pay or quit — for unpaid rent: pay by the deadline or move out.
- Cure or quit — for a lease violation: fix it by the deadline or move out.
- Unconditional / termination — to end a month-to-month tenancy or for serious violations.
Missouri notice period & service
The number of days and how you must deliver the notice are set by Missouri law — get both right, keep proof of service, and never lock out or remove a tenant yourself. Check the current Missouri eviction rules before serving.
If the tenant moves out still owing rent, the notice won’t collect it. Put the amount and a deadline in writing with a Missouri demand letter for payment; if it’s ignored, you can file in Missouri small claims court, where the limit is $5,000.
Frequently asked questions
How many days notice do I have to give in Missouri?
Missouri does not require a fixed pre-filing notice period for non-payment in the usual case (as of 2026) — the rules are set by Mo. Rev. Stat. §§ 441.040, 441.060; ch. 535. Confirm your situation, since just-cause and local rules can apply, before serving anything.
How do I serve the notice in Missouri?
States set rules for delivery — often personal delivery, leaving it with an adult at the home, and/or mailing a copy. Keep proof of how and when you served it. Improper service is a common reason eviction cases get dismissed, so follow Missouri’s method carefully.
Do I need a lawyer?
Not always for the notice itself, but eviction is technical and a small mistake can restart the clock. For contested cases, commercial properties, or if the tenant has an attorney, it’s worth consulting a landlord-tenant lawyer in Missouri.
Where does a landlord file an eviction case in Missouri?
If the tenant does not comply with the notice, the landlord files in the Associate Circuit Court (associate circuit judge of the county where the property is located) (the case is called a(n) Rent and possession (Ch. 535) / unlawful detainer (Ch. 534) action). Source: RSMo § 535.020 (rent and possession) and § 534.060 (unlawful detainer), eff. 28 Aug 2009/current.
How does Missouri compare? See the notice periods in all 50 states, every figure cited to statute. Not sure which notice applies? Try the 2-question wizard.
How Missouri compares
Computed from our 51-jurisdiction dataset (as of 2026). Source for Missouri: Mo. Rev. Stat. §§ 441.040, 441.060; ch. 535 ↗.
- Notice to pay rent or quit
Missouri has no fixed statutory pay-or-quit period — the lease terms and court rules control, so state the deadline explicitly in the notice.
Notice to pay rent or quit in neighboring states — Arkansas (3 days), Illinois (5 days), Iowa (3 days), Kansas (3 days), Kentucky (7 days), Nebraska (7 days), Oklahoma (5 days), Tennessee (14 days).
- Notice to cure a lease violation
Notice to cure a lease violation: 10 days — below the national median of 14 days across the 38 states with a statutory rule.
This is the most common figure nationally — shared by 6 other states.
Notice to cure a lease violation in neighboring states — Arkansas (14 days), Illinois (10 days), Iowa (7 days), Kansas (14 days), Kentucky (14 days), Nebraska (14 days), Oklahoma (15 days), Tennessee (14 days).
- Notice to end a month-to-month tenancy
Notice to end a month-to-month tenancy: 30 days, exactly the national median.
This is the most common figure nationally — shared by 36 other states.
Notice to end a month-to-month tenancy in neighboring states — Arkansas (30 days), Illinois (30 days), Iowa (30 days), Kansas (30 days), Kentucky (30 days), Nebraska (30 days), Oklahoma (30 days), Tennessee (30 days). Every neighboring state with a rule matches Missouri.
The rest of what Missouri requires
The figures below are Missouri's, not national averages — each one is the value we verified for this state, with the statute it comes from. Follow a row to the full Missouri page for that document.
- Security deposit cap · as of 2026
- 2 months' rent Mo. Rev. Stat. §535.300 ↗
- Deposit return deadline · as of 2026
- 30 days after move-out Mo. Rev. Stat. §535.300 ↗
- Notice to end a month-to-month tenancy · as of 2026
- 30 days Mo. Rev. Stat. §535.300 ↗
- Small claims limit · as of 2026
- $5,000 § 482.305 RSMo; Mo. Sup. Ct. Rules 140-155 (small claims rules) ↗
- Where you file · as of 2026
- Small Claims Court — a docket of the Circuit Court heard by an associate circuit judge sitting as the small claims judge · filing fee No statewide flat fee; court costs vary by circuit/county, commonly ~$35-$100 (e.g., Cole County lists $45 for a pro se small claim). Check the local circuit clerk. § 482.305 RSMo; Mo. Sup. Ct. Rules 140-155 (small claims rules) ↗
- Rental application fee · as of July 2026
- No statutory limit Missouri Revisor ↗
- Bill of sale notarization · as of 2026
- Not required Missouri DOR (Form 1957) ↗
- Power of attorney signing · as of 2026
- Notarization required Mo. Rev. Stat. §404.705 ↗
- LLC operating agreement · as of 2026
- Required by statute Mo. Rev. Stat. § 347.081.1 (shall adopt); § 347.015(13) (definition) ↗
- Recording a deed · as of 2026
- Recorder of Deeds (county; duties under RSMo ch. 59) · no witnesses RSMo §§ 442.130, 442.380 ↗
Eviction notice in other states
More Missouri legal forms
Different state? See eviction notices by state →