How to File a Complaint on a Former Tenant

1). Contact the Clerk of Courts for the city or county in the area where the rental property is located. Ask the court for the proper complaint form you need to lodge against the former renter. The court may vary, depending on your location. In New Jersey, for example, you must contact the Office of the Special Civil Part Clerk.
2). Fill out the complaint form carefully, noting as much information as possible. List the name of the renter or renters, the address of the property, the reason for the complaint and your contact information. Return your form to the court and pay the required filing fee.
3). Gather any documentation or evidence that proves your complaint. Bring a copy of the lease agreement, canceled checks that show payments received, photographs of the property and witnesses to the complaint. You must bring actual witnesses --- not signed statements --- to court.
4). Arrive at court on the scheduled date, with your evidence in hand. Present the case to the court, using your evidence to prove that the information you listed on the original complaint is true. The court will allow you and the tenant to speak, unless the former tenant fails to appear.
5). Wait for the official ruling by the court. The court may rule in your favor and require the former tenant to pay court costs and additional costs to cover damages or problems left by the apartment. The court may also rule in the tenant's favor and award you the court costs.