Eviction

A request to serve an eviction is on a first-come, first-served basis! Each file is reviewed and processed according to the information that is received. If the information on your request and on your writ conflict, your request will be returned. Please follow the steps below:

1. Step One: Instructions
   Complete the SER-001 form for each person to be served/removed. The SER-001 form must be completed and signed by the plaintiff if pro per, or by the retained attorney. It is very important that you explicitly state the type of service and the type of writ you have on the form.
   
   We must have the correct property address in Fresno County to execute the order. The property address on the SER-001 form must match the property address for possession listed on the writ.
   
   If you have an agent meeting the Deputy at the time of the eviction, we must have their correct name and cell phone number. The agent must be an individual located within our county on the day of the eviction.
2. Step Two: Court Writ
   Provide the valid Writ of Execution for Possession of Real Property, signed and sealed by the court.
3. Step Three: Fee
   Include the appropriate fee for service. See the Fees & Service Type page for fee amounts and acceptable forms of payment.
4. Submission Methods
   The completed materials can be brought to our public window during regular hours or mailed to our post office box address. When mailing a request for service, DO NOT MAIL CASH. A receipt with an assigned Sheriff’s Levy file number will be mailed to the requestor once payment is verified.

The Civil Unit does not postpone lockouts. Lockouts can be paused with a court order only (e.g., Stipulated Agreement, Granted Ex Parte, etc.). If you are not able to make the scheduled lockout date, you will have to cancel the service. See our main page for information on cancelling a service.

Any mail sent to an address other than the civil unit post office box address is subject to delays if received at all.

EVICTIONS ARE SCHEDULED ABOUT 2-3 WEEKS OUT AT THE TIME OF RECEIPT OF APPROVED DOCUMENTS FOR SERVICE.

Once the Civil Unit has accepted and processed your request, the Deputies will serve a courtesy notice to the defendant or post it in a conspicuous place on the property to vacate the premises. Once the notice has been posted, a Deputy will call the requesting party with the day and time the eviction (lockout) will take place. NOTE: The requesting party is exclusively the attorney of record or the plaintiff if pro per.

Access to Property

The Deputies will need access to clear the property before it is turned back over to you. Access can be through the front or the back. However, if the Deputies determine the point of entry creates a hazardous situation, they will back away for safety.

Agent No-Show Policy

Deputies handle dynamic variations on eviction day; schedules can run behind due to complications or ahead of time because of sudden cancellations.

It is critical that your agent remains on standby starting at 0600 hours up until the eviction occurs. If the Deputy attempts to contact the agent and they do not answer, the agent may be marked as a no-show and the lockout will be aborted. If your agent becomes unavailable, the attorney or pro per plaintiff must contact our office in writing immediately to update the info.

1. If the property requires an access card or gate code, you must provide it when paying your fees.
2. The property and individual unit(s) must be clearly marked with the physical address and unit designation.
3. You or your agent must meet Deputies directly at the structure address (and specific apartment/trailer if applicable). Deputies will not travel to a separate leasing office or offsite meeting location.
4. Promptly arrive at least 20 minutes before the scheduled eviction time and wait. If you are not present when the check occurs, it will be marked a "No Show." New fees, instructions, and writs will be required to reschedule.
5. Ensure your contact phone numbers are active and accessible so staff can coordinate the lockout appointment. If your voicemail is non-functional, notice will be sent via standard U.S. Mail, causing critical delays.
6. You must provide physical access to the dwelling when Deputies arrive. Have a working key for all locks, or provide a competent locksmith or maintenance employee. If entry cannot be gained in a timely manner, the lockout will be documented as unsuccessful, requiring a complete restart.
7. Do not enter the property or make contact with anyone on site before the Deputies arrive. If you breach the perimeter early, the eviction will be immediately cancelled.
8. For your safety, park or station yourself a reasonable distance away from the property in an area where you can clearly see the Deputies arrive.
9. When the Deputies arrive, make your presence known and identify yourself. Civil Unit Deputies commonly operate white, unmarked SUVs or trucks.

If our office is formally notified that a defendant/debtor has filed for bankruptcy protection, all enforcement actions will immediately cease until we receive clear direction from the court or the plaintiff's legal representative.

Once notified of a stay, it is the absolute responsibility of the plaintiff or attorney of record to update our office in writing with verified documentation on how to proceed.

No one other than the designated attorney of record or the pro per plaintiff may cancel a scheduled eviction action.

Please refer to the cancellation guidelines listed on our civil main page to submit a formal request.

On average, our office receives between 60–80 eviction cases every week, and this workload continues to scale. Our Deputies cover 6,000 square miles daily and routinely confront high-risk operational environments. If you possess knowledge of criminal activity, extraordinary threats, or volatile circumstances regarding the premises, you must note them on the instruction form. Protecting public and staff safety is core to our mission.

Helpful Information to List on Your Instructions:

• The name and phone number of the agent meeting the Deputy on site at 0700 hours.
• Active lockout stay constraints or pending extension dates.
• Foreclosure actions or historical bankruptcy context affecting the property.
• Service status of the Prejudgment Claim of Right to Possession (CCP § 415.46).
• The root cause of the eviction (e.g., Failure to Pay Rent, Lease Violation, Illegal Activity).
• Potential involvement of occupants or recurring guests with narcotics, controlled substances, or street gangs.
• Known weapon ownership, accessible firearms, or threats of violence directed toward landlords or law enforcement.
• Active security cameras, exterior surveillance configurations, or defensive counter-measures.
• Aggressive dogs or protective animals present on the property (provide quantity, size, and breed details).
• Elderly, medical, bedridden, or severely disabled occupants requiring specialized transport or advance planning.
• Minor children residing on the premises (state quantity and approximate age brackets).
• Necessary gate codes, security keys, or perimeter access parameters.