An unlawful detainer is a civil case brought by a landlord to obtain possession of rented property and receive payment of back rent.

In order to legally evict a tenant (remove and lock the tenant out of the property), the landlord must file an unlawful detainer action. An award for possession of property authorizes the landlord to evict the tenant from the property.

If the landlord is also awarded judgment for payment of back rent, he or she may collect the judgment by garnishing the tenant’s wages, attaching the tenant’s property, or any other legal means.