A Day at the Courthouse

10/5 – Living farther away from court than most people who are attending, I leave the house at 7am for a 9am hearing for the eviction. At 7.10am, I receive a call from the tenant, explaining in detail why I have received no rent payments or communication from them. I listen for 10 minutes, and in this time I find that her story is consistent with her absence, the state of the property, and the prior owner's claims of prompt payments. I tell her to put everything in writing to have present for the judge as well as me at court.
At court, after witnessing a civil marriage (not me as a witness, but just being present), the judge asks all cases where the parties have come to an agreement be taken care of first. For the last two hours I have thought over this tenant's problems, solution, and my own destiny with the Great Scorer. I feel that though this tenant owes me a shitload of money, I will give them this chance.
The judge calls us up and we state that we have come to an agreement that they will stay and owe me for September, October, late fees for September, late fees for October, court costs, service fee, along with November's rent. Essentially, they will owe me four months rent for three months.
I find out after court that rather than have the case dismissed, I should have ad a continuance until money was paid. The mistake here is that if she does not pay, I have to re-file, meaning another court and service fee that will put one of us further in the hole. I can only hope they hold true to their word, both written and verbal.