You probably need to move out. Whether it makes sense to sue your landlord will depend upon multiple factors, such as the lease's terms, your financial situation, and your landlord's ability to satisfy any court judgment that you might obtain.

I'm sorry for your accident and the injuries you suffered. This is really something that a Missouri attorney should advise on, but your post remains open for four weeks. If you reached out to attorneys in the Springfield area, most would probably offer free initial consults on such matters.... View More

There’s no way someone can tell you whom the court will believe. What I can tell you is that contracts for deed generally go badly for tenants. You should hire an attorney if you can afford one. If you proceed pro se you’ll likely lose, especially if your landlord is represented by counsel.

I would recommend you take a look at RSMo Section 505.300. It deals with the landlord's obligations regarding security deposits. If you have any questions, you should consult an attorney.

Unless you are subject to a lease that has not expired or your lease agreement provides otherwise, your landlord can demand an increased rental amount for a new lease term.

Anyone can sue anyone for anything, but it there has been a breach of your written lease, the proper defendant would be the lessor, not the property management company. Harrassment on account of smoking or a dislike of a tenant is not a cognizable cause of action in Missouri. If you were being... View More

You've not provided any facts so there's no way to determine whether you are entitled to a return of your security deposit. If you are looking to terminate your lease before the agreed-up term expires, then it is unrealistic to believe that your landlord will simple agree to a mutual... View More

It’s not clear what you wish to hire an attorney to do for you. If no lawsuit has been filed against you then there’s no lawsuit to defend. You can check Casenet for the status of Missouri state court cases.

I would need to know more about the details of the situation to better answer your question.

You didn’t ask a question. If you believe your landlord violated the security deposit statute you may sue in small claims court. Before doing so, make sure your lease doesn’t obligate you to pay your landlord’s attorney’s fees if you lose.

Here is the statute.... View More

Obviously, I do not know all of the facts. If a judgment was entered against you and the sheriff came to give you notice to vacate before carrying out the judgment but returning possession to the landlord then it's "legal." It takes a lawsuit, service or posting of the summons,... View More

The rules about how a landlord can terminate a lease are in Missouri revised statute 441.060. Your landlord is required to follow those rules.

You have the right to remain during the lease term so long as you are honoring you obligations. You don’t have the right, however, to make your landlord renew the lease.

After a tenant moves out, the landlord does not have a duty to store the tenant’s property. Landlord has to make the property available to the tenant for a “reasonable “ amount of time (maybe a few days), then the property is treated as abandoned by the tenant and can be disposed of.

When a rental property is sold and there is a written lease for a term already in place on that property, the new owner takes the property subject to the lease. So your lease would still be in place, provided it is in writing.

If the summons was posted then that is good service for entry of a judgment against you for possession, but not for money damages. If service was truly invalid then you can hire an attorney and file motion for relief from void judgment and a stay of execution.

You should have a lawyer review the document reflecting the agreement with Merl to see if it would qualify as a will. If so, you can probate it in court to enforce his wishes.

The would depend upon whether you satisfy the requirements and submit the required affidavit under penalty of perjury. Also, if you are month-to-month and the landlord chooses to terminate, then you could still be sued for unlawful detainer, as opposed to rent and possession.... View More

No, but I’m not sure what you are looking to hear beyond such an answer.

You did not ask a specific question but I’ll address your post. If you are subject to a written lease then the lease terms control, not the landlord’s unilateral attempts to change the terms. But if the lease states payment is due the first then it’s due the first each month.