“Then you are the sole legal owner of this real estate, full stop.” But then he raised a hand, before I could feel too triumphant.

“However.

Under state property law, we are not going to attempt a self-help lockout while they are occupying the premises, even though you own it.

That’s the kind of shortcut that turns an owner into a defendant.

We will do this correctly.

We will issue a formal notice terminating their tenancy and demanding surrender of the premises.

If they refuse to vacate, we file an unlawful detainer action in civil court, and we let a judge order them out.

It will be slower.