text: Wrong.  You are not a landlord.  You don't call the lawyer at all, and you don't wait until the 15th. The tenant is served with a 3-day notice for compliance or possession on the 2nd.  If it's not paid by the 6th, you fax or e-mail a copy of the notice to the lawyer on that day.  On that same day they will file for a court date in 2 or 3 weeks.  The sheriff will then show up in another 2 - 3 weeks if actually needed.