Most evictions succeed or fail based on whether the paperwork was done correctly — the notice, the timing, the service — not on courtroom argument. That said, a handful of situations genuinely call for more than a properly drafted notice.
Straightforward nonpayment cases are mostly about the documents
A tenant who's simply behind on rent, with no lease disputes or counterclaims, is usually a matter of getting the notice, timing, and filing exactly right for your state — the highest-leverage move is a correctly drafted notice, not necessarily full representation.
When it gets more complicated
A tenant asserting a habitability defense, a disputed lease term, allegations of retaliation or discrimination, or a tenant who's simply contesting the case and showing up to fight it are all situations where representation in the actual hearing matters more than the initial paperwork.
Local and state-specific rules add real risk
Some cities layer additional tenant protections on top of state law — just-cause requirements, rent control provisions, extended notice periods — and getting these wrong is one of the most common reasons a straightforward-looking case gets dismissed or delayed.
Starting with the documents is usually the right move
For most landlords, having the notice and any related filings drafted correctly for their specific state and city is the foundation everything else depends on — and it's often enough on its own for an uncontested case, with representation reserved for when a tenant actually contests it.