Can I legally change the locks since my husband has now abandoned the home?

I don't think you should. He does not appear to have abandoned the Property--personal or real property.

I was a defendant in a California Small Claims Court case and lost. I ended up with with a judgment of $5000.

In small claims, the jurisdictional limit for entities is $5,000.00 so it would be $5,000.00. If you appeal, you can have an attorney represent...

Can I file for ex parte after a trial for eviction

Yes you can file an ex parte application after trial. I've seen it done many times. But I've never seen it work either. A better bet would be to...

If I serve a 60 day notice on a tenant who has been in the property for over 1 year, do I need to state the reason if I only

You can state you want possession. Or you can just tell them to see their way out and not mention anything--nicely though. =]

In CA, how can a tenant's prior collection accounts be an issue for a landlord?

Concerns: (1) You can't count on him to pay on time; (2) Even if he does pay on time he might not have enough money because his wages may be...

Can I evict a tenant that isn't paying rent?

If you own the property and they don't pay you rent--you can kick em out. Simple as that.

I filed a complaint in Jan 2014... I have not yet served the Defendants...

When you file a complaint--you don't need a judge's permission to file an amended complaint when no Defendants have been served or responded. You...

Do Tenants Have The Right To Demand Assurance That A Landlord Is Able Or Willing To Return A Security Deposit BEFORE Move-Out?

I'm a frequent face in UD Courts in LA--and I would say that you have the right to rest assurances. On the other hand, not paying your rent is...

Can I do anything?

You have your own contract with the employer to work for $x/hour. You worked Y-hours so you'll get paid $XY. There's not too much you can do....

Unlawful Detainer actions are sealed for 60 days. After that they become public. If you want to have the filed sealed, you need to have done it...