What is a Distress Warrant (DC-424) used for in rent actions?

What is a Distress Warrant (DC-424) used for in rent actions?

• A. An emergency proceeding used by a landlord to collect back rent when a Warrant in Debt and/or Summons in Unlawful Detainer would not be adequate.
• B. To schedule a tenant meeting about rent.
• C. To grant a landlord permission to enter a unit without notice.
• D. To transfer rent payment processing to a third party.

Answer: (A)

A distress warrant is an emergency remedy in rent actions that lets a landlord enlist the sheriff to seize the tenant’s personal property to satisfy unpaid rent, when ordinary collection steps wouldn’t be enough. The DC-424 form is used to obtain this authority, providing a faster route to recover back rent by converting seized assets into payment. This isn’t about scheduling tenant meetings, entering a unit without notice, or moving rent processing to a third party, so those options don’t fit.

A distress warrant is an emergency remedy in rent actions that lets a landlord enlist the sheriff to seize the tenant’s personal property to satisfy unpaid rent, when ordinary collection steps wouldn’t be enough. The DC-424 form is used to obtain this authority, providing a faster route to recover back rent by converting seized assets into payment. This isn’t about scheduling tenant meetings, entering a unit without notice, or moving rent processing to a third party, so those options don’t fit.