Evictions are the process by which tenants can be removed from a rented apartment or other residence by the landlord. Unless the conditions of the lease agreement say otherwise, evictions must generally follow very specific guidelines. According to eviction laws, the landlord is first required to provide the tenant with a notice of eviction, requesting that the tenant vacates the premises or else be taken to court. The notice must define the reasoning behind the eviction as well as a time period during the tenant must leave. After a notice has been issued, landlord must then finalize evictions in court with the tenant. Without a court order, evictions are illegal and in violation of tenants rights. In many cases, however, evictions may even be negotiated or settled rather than being taken to court.