What is a writ of possession?

A document written by the courts after a landlord wins an eviction lawsuit that requires the resident to vacate the premises or be forced from the premises after a certain amount of time is a writ of possession. This document is typically served by local law enforcement, says USLegal.

The writ of possession advises the resident of the amount of time he has to vacate the home. Once the time passes, a member of law enforcement forcibly removes the tenant. Local and state laws govern the rules applied to a writ of possession and vary depending on the location of the property, explains USLegal.