What post-eviction lock changes are
Locks change after the writ, not instead of it. An unsecured unit overnight is an open claim. A lock change before the officer restores possession is an illegal lockout.
Key facts
- Lifecycle stage: Post-eviction.
- EvictIQ field operations: Georgia (metro Atlanta). We do not operate field crews in every state.
- Exact claims only: 10,000+ completed evictions; 72-hour service of tenant after filing on average (Georgia service).
- Not a law firm. Not legal advice. No date guarantees. No price list on this page.
What this service is
This is the same operational job as locksmith coordination, named the way landlords search after the fact. Secondary doors, sliders, and garage remotes get forgotten and become the next call.
If someone is still in legal possession, a locksmith is the wrong vendor. That is a court process. EvictIQ does not treat lock changes as an eviction method.
When this step is needed
You need post-eviction lock changes the day possession is restored so prior occupants cannot walk back in that night.
You do not need — and must not use — a locksmith to end a tenancy. That is an illegal lockout even if the rent is months behind.
How the process usually works
- Schedule the locksmith to the writ window.
- Wait until the authorized office has restored possession.
- Change locks and check sliders, garage, and secondary doors.
- Hand keys only to the owner or named manager.
- Record the work on the completion report.
Courts and executing offices set their own calendars. These are operational steps, not a guaranteed timeline.
What this step usually covers
- Locksmith timed to the writ window
- Work starts only after the authorized office restores possession
- Secondary entries checked
- Keys handed to the owner or on-site manager before anyone leaves
These are the jobs the step exists to do. They are not a nationwide menu EvictIQ staffs in every county.
What you must verify locally
- Whether the executing office must witness the lock change
- Who is allowed to receive keys
- HOA or key-box rules for that community
We do not publish a stale per-state timetable. Statutes change.
What this does not include
- Legal advice, courtroom representation, or an attorney-client relationship
- A guaranteed hearing date, writ date, or setout date — courts and executing offices set their own calendars
- Self-help lockouts, utility shutoffs, or removal of belongings outside a court-issued writ
- A published price. Scope and price are written after intake, before work starts
Georgia we can handle. Elsewhere we route.
If the property is in Georgia, EvictIQ can take this step end to end. If it isn't, we'll tell you what to look for in a local attorney or service — we do not operate field crews in every state.
Related services
All eviction services — the full catalog, grouped by category on the hub.
Locksmith Coordination
The unit is not recovered until it is secured — same day, same window as the crew.
Lock Change Services
Rekey or replace locks on vacant, surrendered, or post-writ property — never as a self-help eviction.
Eviction Setout Services
The day the officer attends, the unit is cleared, and the locks are changed.
Related guides
Common questions
The tenant is three months behind. Can I rekey this weekend?
Not if they still have legal possession. That is a lockout. File, serve, get judgment and a writ, then change locks.
Is this different from lock-change services?
Lock-change services also cover vacant and REO rekeys. Post-eviction lock changes are specifically the after-writ job.
Need help with this step?
Tell us where the property is and where the case stands. Georgia we handle; elsewhere we route.
- A coordinator reviews it, usually the same business day
- You get a written scope and price before anything is filed
- Georgia hire on local-eviction.com
We'll tell you so rather than take the lead. What to look for locally: a provider who knows which office executes writs in your county, who gives you cycle-time variance rather than an average, and who refuses to guarantee a completion date.
Working a real case?
Georgia we handle end to end. Anywhere else, we'll tell you what to look for in a local provider.