Demand Letter Generator

When to send a demand letter

Send a demand letter when someone owes you money and has not paid: a personal loan, an unpaid bill for your work, a refund for work that was never done, damage to your property, or a security deposit your former landlord kept. It is often the last step before small claims court, and many disputes end with the letter.

The generator adds your state's rules: the small claims limit (it will not mention small claims court for an amount over the limit), whether your state expects a demand before filing, and for deposits, the landlord's legal deadline and penalty where the statute sets one.

Security deposit return deadlines by state

49 states set a fixed number of days for a landlord to return the deposit or send an itemized list of deductions. The clock usually starts when the tenancy ends or when you hand back the keys. In some states it starts only after you ask for the deposit or give your forwarding address in writing, and some deadlines count business days only. Open your state's page for the exact rule and its statute.

What a demand letter should say

A demand letter is a short, factual request for payment. It names who owes whom, how much, and why; it sets a date to pay; and it says what you will do next if you are not paid. Keep it to what you could prove to a judge: the agreement, the dates, the amount, and any payments already made.

• Your name and mailing address, the date, and the other side's name and address.
• The amount you are asking for and how you got to it.
• A short account of what was agreed and what went wrong.
• A clear deadline and how to pay.
• Your next step if you are not paid, such as filing in small claims court.

Send it in a way you can prove, such as certified mail with a return receipt, and keep a copy for the court file.

States that require notice before a consumer lawsuit

Some state consumer protection laws require a step before a consumer can sue a business under that law, usually a written notice or demand (Mississippi instead requires an attempt to settle through a program approved by the Attorney General). In the sources we checked, 9 states have such a rule for consumer claims generally (Alabama, California, Georgia, Maine, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Texas, West Virginia and Wyoming), and some others have one only for certain businesses. The notice usually has to describe the unfair practice and your loss, and some states set how it must be sent. If your state has a general rule, the generator says so and warns you if your deadline is shorter.

This generator writes an ordinary demand letter. It does not certify that a letter meets a consumer statute's notice rules; read the statute linked on your state's page before you rely on the letter for that purpose.

What this tool does not do

• It does not send the letter, store it, or put anything you type in the web address. Everything stays in your browser.
• It does not calculate interest, judge whether your claim is strong, or say what a court would award.
• It does not check your statute of limitations. Use the statute of limitations calculator.
• It is general information and a template, not legal advice.