Jennifer, you have fallen for the responses of the forum troll. NoPop has no legal experience or knowledge. He is simply an unemployed welfare bum from NY.
So, lets get some REAL answers to your questions......
"Can anyone explain the OK law about eviction, notification, and personal property in LAYMAN'S terms, for all us blondes?"
The eviction process is normally supposed to be a fairly simple step-by-step process and is governed by state laws.
Here is a brief summary of the process in Oklahoma:
The first step in the eviction process is delivery of a formal, written notice, "Notice to Quit." This may be made in duplicate or triplicate for the property manager's records. The Notice to Quit is a demand for payment of delinquent dollars including any and all delinquent dollars from prior months.
The Notice to Quit is to be served on the 3rd day after rent is delinquent and may be either a five day or a ten day notice. Some property managers add "et. al." (meaning "and others") after the tenant name(s) to include all persons residing at that address.
Should the property manager deliver the notice personally to a family member over the age of 12, it becomes a five day notice.
If the notice can not be delivered personally, due to the tenant not being home, not answering the door, etc., it can be posted to the door of the residence. If the notice is posted, the copy must be sealed in an envelope with the tenant's name and address or apartment number on it. The property manager must then mail the original copy to the tenant by certified mail or obtain a certificate of mailing.
After the requisite five or ten days have passed and the tenant has not tendered the full amount as stated on the notice, upon the sixth or eleventh day, a summons and petition may be filed at the court house.
When the summons and petition is filed, a court date and judge is established. The property manager will be required to have the summons and petition served upon the tenant by a process server, certified mail or Deputy Sheriff. There is a filing fee to be paid at the time the summons and petition are filed and an additional charge for service fee.
When appearing before the judge, the property manager will be asking for the dollar amount expended for the filing fee and service fee (court costs). Judgment will include dollars of rent through the date of the court hearing, court costs and any proven damages claimed in the petition if the decision is rendered in favor of the property manager.
If the tenant is still in possession of the residence on the date of the court hearing, the property manager must request an Execution and Writ of Assistance. After the hearing, when the judge has signed and granted possession and damages, the Journal Entry (the judge's declaration of dollar amounts granted to the plaintiff) must be filed in order for the judgment to be recorded on record. Execution and Writ of Assistance are taken back to be filed with the court clerk. There is usually an additional fee for the filing of this form. The Journal Entry and Writ will be stamped by the court clerk.
The Execution and Writ of Assistance will then be taken to the Sheriff's office or may be personally delivered by the property manager. The Writ gives the tenant three days from the date the Sheriff has posted the Writ on the tenant's door to get out of the property.
If the tenants are not out of the property in three days, the sheriff and the property manager or the property manager's maintenance person, will meet at the property. The Sheriff will observe while the door lock is changed. Property managers should never lock a tenant out prior to the Sheriff's arrival.