Cal. Civ. Code § 534.020
Forcible entry and detainer defined
Operative Text
If any person shall enter upon or into any lands, tenements or other possessions, with force or strong hand, or with weapons, or by breaking open the doors or windows or other parts of a house, whether any person be in it or not, or by threatening to kill, maim or beat the party in possession, or by such words or actions as have a natural tendency to excite fear or apprehension of danger, or by putting out of doors or carrying away the goods of the party in possession, or by entering peaceably and then turning out by force, or frightening, by threats or other circumstances of terror, the party out of possession, and detain and hold the same in every such case, the person so offending shall be deemed guilty of a "forcible entry and detainer" within the meaning of this chapter.
Missouri Revised Statutes § 534.020 defines the legal concept of 'forcible entry and detainer' — a category of unlawful conduct in which someone takes or holds possession of real property through force, intimidation, threats, or other coercive means. The law covers a wide range of conduct, from physically breaking into a property to using threatening words or actions that cause a person in possession to fear for their safety. Even a person who enters a property peacefully but then uses force or terror to drive out the occupant falls within this definition.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Mo. Rev. Stat. § 534.020, property owners and managers should understand that reclaiming possession of a rental unit through self-help measures — such as changing locks, removing a tenant's belongings, making threats, or using intimidating conduct — can constitute forcible entry and detainer under Missouri law. Compliant operators rely exclusively on the formal court-based eviction process to recover possession of a property. Familiarity with this statute helps operators avoid conduct that could expose them to legal liability under Chapter 534.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Mo. Rev. Stat. § 534.020 provides a legal framework that may protect tenants who are removed or threatened out of their homes through force or intimidation rather than through a lawful court process. If a landlord has changed locks, removed belongings, made threats, or otherwise used coercive tactics to displace an occupant, that conduct may fall within the definition of forcible entry and detainer. Tenants who believe they have experienced such conduct may consider consulting a tenant-rights organization or legal aid provider to understand what remedies or defenses may be available under Chapter 534.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 14, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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