How much does an eviction lawyer cost in California?

Flat fees are common for uncontested unlawful detainers and hourly billing for contested cases, on both sides. If the lease contains an attorney fee clause, Civil Code section 1717 makes it reciprocal — the prevailing party can recover fees whichever side wrote it — and income-qualified tenants can seek court fee waivers and legal aid.

California eviction work is priced around speed. Landlord-side firms commonly quote flat fees for an uncontested unlawful detainer — notice, filing, default, and lockout — with additional charges if the tenant answers and the case goes to trial; tenant-side defense is more often hourly or handled by nonprofit legal aid organizations, which prioritize eviction cases because the response deadlines are so short. Two cost rules matter regardless of side. First, any attorney fee clause in the lease is reciprocal under Civil Code section 1717: the prevailing party may recover reasonable fees even if the clause was written to protect only the landlord, and some leases cap the recoverable amount. Second, court filing fees can be waived for income-qualified litigants under Government Code section 68630 et seq. As with any California legal work expected to exceed one thousand dollars, Business and Professions Code section 6148 calls for a written fee agreement stating the basis of the fee — ask for it before the notice period runs.

Authority: Cal. Civ. Code § 1717