Mississippi Eviction Defense — LSC-Grade Legal Packet
Jurisdiction-correct document templates. Not legal advice.
1. Eligibility Checker — Who This Packet Helps
- [ ] You are a tenant facing eviction in Mississippi
- [ ] You live in rental housing (apartment, house, mobile home, room)
- [ ] Your landlord has given you notice or filed for eviction
- [ ] Your income is low (generally under 200% of federal poverty level for free legal aid)
File at: Mississippi court finder: https://www.mscourts.gov/directory/
2. Required Forms — Mississippi Eviction Defense
Forms You May Need
| Form Name | Purpose | Where to Get |
|---|---|---|
| Answer | Responds to the eviction lawsuit | Draft yourself or get legal help |
| Motion to Dismiss | Asks court to throw out the case | Draft yourself or get legal help |
| Request for Jury Trial | Asks for a jury instead of judge | File with your Answer |
| Affidavit of Indigency | Asks to skip filing fees if low-income | County Justice Court clerk |
Mississippi Court Forms
- Mississippi does not have a statewide eviction form repository
- Most forms are drafted by attorneys or self-represented parties
- Contact your local Justice Court clerk for available forms
3. Step-by-Step Filing Instructions
Step 1: Read the Notice Carefully
Step 2: Respond to the Notice
- Fix the issue BEFORE the notice deadline
- Pay rent with a method that gives you a receipt (money order, check, or get written receipt)
- Keep copies of everything
- Contact legal aid immediately
- Document all problems with your rental unit
- Save all texts, emails, and letters from your landlord
- Take photos of any issues
Step 3: If Landlord Files in Court — File Your Answer
- Read the Summons carefully for your court date
- Draft an Answer responding to each claim
- File your Answer with the Justice Court clerk BEFORE your court date (if required locally) or bring it to court
Step 4: Prepare for Court
Step 5: Go to Court on Your Trial Date
Step 6: If You Lose — You Have Options
5. Filing Checklist — Before Going to Court
- [ ] Your lease (original or copy)
- [ ] All rent receipts or payment records
- [ ] The eviction notice from your landlord
- [ ] Court summons and complaint
- [ ] Your Answer (if you drafted one)
- [ ] Photos of your apartment (especially any problems)
- [ ] Copies of letters, texts, and emails with landlord
- [ ] Any repair requests you made in writing
- [ ] Proof of income (for fee waiver application)
- [ ] Your court date and time
- [ ] Court address and room number
LEGAL AID
- Mississippi Center for Legal Services: mslegalservices.org · 1-800-498-1804
- North MS Rural Legal Services: nmrls.com · 1-800-498-1804
- MS Volunteer Lawyers Project: msvlp.org · (601) 960-9572
- MS Access to Justice Commission: msajc.org · (601) 359-9250
*Not legal advice. Jurist-Diction is not a law firm. Templates are jurisdiction-correct.
Verify current law before filing. For legal advice contact a licensed Mississippi attorney or legal aid. jurist-diction.com*