The RegistryCounty Record · California

Landlord–Tenant Lawyers in Riverside County, California

Searching for a tenant rights lawyer in Riverside County? Counsel for rentals on both sides of the lease — evictions, deposits, and habitability. This page indexes the county's landlord–tenant coverage from the State Bar of California's official roll, with identity-verification markers where available.

One of the fastest-growing counties in the nation; its superior court operates from downtown Riverside to the Coachella Valley's Larson Justice Center in Indio. The court of record is the Superior Court of California, County of Riverside — counsel who appear there regularly read the local calendar better than any brochure.

Deadlines shape these cases before merits do — unlawful detainer deadlines run in days — a three-day notice starts most non-payment cases (Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 1161). A tenant served with an unlawful detainer summons has ten court days to respond (Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 1167). Security deposits must be accounted for within 21 days of move-out (Cal. Civ. Code § 1950.5).

This page is the Riverside County chapter of the registry's statewide record — Tenant Rights Lawyers in California collects all 58 counties.

The clock & the court

Statute of limitations

Unlawful detainer deadlines run in days — a three-day notice starts most non-payment cases.

Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 1161

A tenant served with an unlawful detainer summons has ten court days to respond (Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 1167). Security deposits must be accounted for within 21 days of move-out (Cal. Civ. Code § 1950.5).

Court of record

Superior Court of California, County of Riverside.

County seat: Riverside

Official court information, locations, and filing rules: www.riverside.courts.ca.gov

Landlord–Tenant · Riverside County roster

89 attorneys on the official State Bar of California roll list landlord–tenant among their practice areas with an address of record in Riverside County.

88 of them hold an active licence; the remainder are recorded as inactive and are not currently eligible to practise.

The roster concentrates in Riverside (33), Palm Springs (10), Palm Desert (9) and Murrieta (7).

Admission years on this roster run from 1971 to 2025.

The employers most represented here are Inland Counties Legal Services (12), Riverside Legal Aid (3) and Tyler Law, LLP (2).

Cyrus A. Abtahi

Business Litigation · Murrieta

Bar #285701 · Admitted 2012

Official record

Andrew N. Alton

Landlord–Tenant · Riverside

Bar #332991 · Admitted 2021

Official record

Michele D. Barfuss

Business Litigation · Palm Desert

Bar #348335 · Admitted 2023

Official record

John W. Branch

Business Litigation · Temecula

Bar #151535 · Admitted 1990

Official record

Donna Marie Brandt

Business Litigation · Riverside

Bar #312678 · Admitted 2016

Official record

Elisa G. Buchanan

Bankruptcy · Riverside

Bar #258279 · Admitted 2008

Official record

Shirin Buckman

Landlord–Tenant · Palm Desert

Bar #314634 · Admitted 2017

Official record

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Landlord–Tenant questions, cited

How much can my landlord raise rent in California?

For most residential property older than 15 years, the Tenant Protection Act caps annual increases at 5% plus regional CPI, never exceeding 10% (Cal. Civ. Code § 1947.12). Single-family homes owned by individuals are often exempt if proper notice is given. Local ordinances in cities such as Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Oakland impose stricter caps that control when they apply.

When must a security deposit be returned in California?

Within 21 calendar days after the tenant moves out, with an itemized statement of any deductions and receipts for repairs over $125 (Cal. Civ. Code § 1950.5). Since July 2024, deposits are generally capped at one month's rent (Civ. Code § 1950.5(c), as amended by AB 12). Bad-faith retention exposes the landlord to up to twice the deposit in statutory damages.

Can my landlord evict me without cause in California?

For most tenancies of 12 months or longer, no — the Tenant Protection Act requires "just cause" for termination (Cal. Civ. Code § 1946.2), either at-fault (non-payment, breach, nuisance) or no-fault (owner move-in, withdrawal from the market), with relocation assistance owed for no-fault terminations. Exempt properties and shorter tenancies follow ordinary notice rules (Civ. Code §§ 1946, 1946.1).

What can I do if my rental is uninhabitable?

California implies a warranty of habitability in every residential lease; Cal. Civ. Code § 1941.1 lists minimum standards (working plumbing, heat, weatherproofing, no vermin). After notice and a reasonable time, tenants may use the repair-and-deduct remedy up to one month's rent (Civ. Code § 1942), and retaliation for exercising these rights is prohibited for 180 days (Civ. Code § 1942.5).

How fast does an eviction case move in California?

Faster than almost any other civil case. After the notice period (often three days for non-payment, Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 1161), the landlord files an unlawful detainer; the tenant has ten court days to respond (§ 1167), and trial is set within about 20 days of a trial request (§ 1170.5). Tenants who wait to seek advice often lose by default before defenses are ever heard.

Legal information, not legal advice.

From the answer files

Landlord–Tenant by city in Riverside County

Related counsel in Riverside County

Landlord–Tenant in nearby counties

Source: Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 1161 · State Bar of California licensee records · Checked: · Maintained by the California Attorney Registry from official State Bar of California records. Legal information, not legal advice.

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