Wampler, Carroll, Wilson & Sanderson, PLLC
An established Memphis firm that helps Shelby County landlords move through Tennessee's eviction process in compliance with state law.
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EvictionsLandlord Representation
Updated June 2, 2026
Whether you are a Memphis landlord trying to remove a tenant who stopped paying, or a renter fighting an eviction or a withheld deposit, Tennessee law sets the timeline and the courthouse. Shelby County is large enough to fall under Tennessee's Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act, and evictions run through the General Sessions Court as a detainer warrant. Below are vetted Memphis firms that handle landlord-tenant work, plus plain answers on the rules and costs.
These lawyers represent either side of a rental dispute: landlords filing evictions or chasing unpaid rent, and tenants defending an eviction, demanding repairs, or recovering a security deposit. In Tennessee the rules are stricter in larger counties, and Shelby County qualifies. A landlord who skips a required notice or tries to force a tenant out without a court order can end up owing damages, so getting the process right matters for both sides.
Tennessee's Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (URLTA), found at Tennessee Code section 66-28, applies in counties with a population over 75,000, which includes Shelby County and Memphis. The URLTA sets out tenants' rights to a habitable home, landlords' rights to collect rent and enforce leases, and the notice rules both sides must follow. In smaller Tennessee counties that do not fall under the URLTA, the rules are looser, so Memphis landlords and tenants are held to a clearer standard than much of the state.
A Memphis eviction starts with written notice. For nonpayment of rent the landlord must give 14 days' notice, and the tenant can stop the eviction by paying within that window. For other lease violations the landlord generally gives 30 days, with 14 to fix the problem. If the tenant does not comply, the landlord files a detainer warrant in the Shelby County General Sessions Court. Self-help evictions, such as changing the locks or shutting off utilities, are illegal in Tennessee and can make the landlord liable. A simple, uncontested detainer case often resolves in a few weeks.
Tennessee does not cap the amount of a security deposit, but under the URLTA a landlord must keep it in a separate account and, when the tenant moves out, provide an itemized list of any deductions. A landlord who fails to follow the deposit rules can lose the right to keep any of it. Eviction and deposit disputes in Memphis are heard in the Civil Division of the Shelby County General Sessions Court, a high-volume docket where a lawyer who knows the local procedure can keep a routine case from dragging out.
Most Memphis eviction lawyers charge landlords a flat fee of roughly $500 to $1,200 for a straightforward, uncontested detainer case, plus court filing and service costs. Contested matters and tenant-side defense are usually billed hourly at about $200 to $350. Tenants who lose a deposit because the landlord ignored the URLTA's account and itemization rules may be able to recover it, which can make a lawyer worthwhile even on a smaller claim. Ask any firm for a written fee estimate before the notice goes out.
Each is a real, independently listed TN firm verified across public legal directories and its own practice pages. For background on this area of law, see our Landlord-Tenant guide.
An established Memphis firm that helps Shelby County landlords move through Tennessee's eviction process in compliance with state law.
A Memphis practice providing local representation in evictions, with attorneys experienced in Tennessee's Residential Landlord and Tenant Act.
A Memphis firm focused on landlord rights and evictions, handling lease and contract reviews, eviction disputes, and post-judgment collection.
A Memphis firm serving Shelby County clients in landlord-tenant disputes among other civil matters.
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