Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in California

Re: 3 day pay or quit notice

You have 3 days to pay your rent. After the 3 days, the landlord can and probably will file a lawsuit known as an "unlawful detainer" against you. That will go on your credit report and make it more difficult to find a new place to live.

You will have 5 days to answer the UD lawsuit after you are served. Then, the court will set a trial date in a couple of weeks. Then, when you lose for having failed to pay rent, the sheriff will evict everyone in your home within a few days.

Perhaps you can negotiate a payment plan with the landlord if you have the hope of increasing your income in the near future.