If you are facing an eviction case, and you have submitted an application for the Emergency Rent Assistance Program (ERAP), you can ask the judge to stay, which means pause, your eviction case while your application is processed. You can download a copy of a sample letter using the link below. 

Download sample letter

Once you fill in the information about your judge's name, your case and upcoming court date, and the ERAP application number, sign the letter and mail it to the judge on your case or bring it to the clerk of the court for filing. You must also mail a copy to the attorney representing your landlord or hand deliver the letter to the attorney’s office. You can find the attorney's name and address at the bottom of the notice of the eviction petition you received.  You can also bring a copy of the letter to court with you to provide to the judge and the landlord’s attorney on the date of your next court conference.

IF YOU HAVE AN UPCOMING COURT DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE CONFIRMATION THAT YOUR CASE HAS BEEN STAYED (PAUSED) YOU MUST SHOW UP TO COURT OR RISK A DEFAULT JUDGMENT AND POSSIBLE EVICTION. ONLY THE JUDGE ON YOUR CASE CAN STAY THE PROCEEDING -- THIS LETTER IS ONLY A REQUEST THAT THE COURT STAY YOUR CASE; YOU MUST RECEIVE CONFIRMATION THAT YOUR REQUEST WAS GRANTED.