California Demand Letter Generator
Write a demand letter for money owed or a security deposit in California, with California's rules built in: the $12,500 small claims limit, the 21-day deposit deadline, and the 30-day pre-suit rule in the Consumers Legal Remedies Act. It runs in your browser; nothing you type is stored or sent.
Everything you type stays in this browser. Nothing is sent to us or saved.
The date in the letter is counted from today.
Facts only: what was agreed, what was paid, what went wrong. Each line becomes a paragraph.
California rules this letter uses
Small claims court
Limit $12,500. Before you file: The claim form asks about it. Find the court, fee and filing steps
Check these before you send
- Add your name.
- Add the name of the person or business that owes you.
- Add the amount you are asking for.
Your letter
[Your name]
October 26, 2026
[Their name]
Re: Demand for payment of [amount]
Dear [Their name],
I am writing about the money I lent you.
This letter is a formal demand that you pay me [amount] by November 9, 2026, which is 14 days from the date of this letter.
Please contact me at the address above to arrange payment.
I would prefer to settle this without going to court. Please respond in writing.
Sincerely,
[Your name]
Before you send
- Keep a copy of this letter and send it in a way you can prove, such as certified mail with a return receipt.
- Stick to the facts and the next step you will take. Do not threaten to report the person to the police or to expose them publicly to get paid.
- Lawsuits have deadlines (statutes of limitations). If the debt or damage is old, check the deadline before you rely on this letter.
- This letter template is general information, not legal advice.
California rules for demand letters
Small claims court in California
The general small claims limit in California is $12,500. The California small claims form asks whether you asked for payment before filing. The claim form must state that, where possible, you asked the defendant to pay before filing.
The small claims court finder shows the filing fee for your amount, where to file and how to serve; our California small claims guide walks through the whole case.
Security deposits in California
No later than 21 calendar days after the tenant moves out, the landlord must send an itemized statement of the deposit and any deductions and return the rest. A landlord who keeps a deposit in bad faith can be ordered to pay statutory damages of up to twice the deposit, on top of actual damages. Cal. Civ. Code § 1950.5(h)(1)
Consumer protection notice in California
For a damages claim under the Consumers Legal Remedies Act (consumer purchases of goods or services), you must, at least 30 days before suing, notify the business in writing of the particular violations and demand that it correct, repair, replace or otherwise rectify the goods or services. Send it by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, to the place of the transaction or the business's principal place of business in California. A lawsuit asking only for an injunction does not need this notice.
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.
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.
Limits of this information
- Some landlords, leases and cities follow different deposit rules; the statute linked above lists exceptions.
- Laws change. These rules were checked against official sources on October 20, 2026.
- This is a template and general information, not legal advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to send a demand letter before suing in California small claims court?
The California small claims form asks whether you asked for payment before filing.
How much can I sue for in California small claims court?
The general limit is $12,500 (Cal. Code Civ. Proc. 116.221). Pick California in the small claims court finder for the fee and filing steps.
How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in California?
No later than 21 calendar days after the tenant moves out, the landlord must send an itemized statement of the deposit and any deductions and return the rest. A landlord who keeps a deposit in bad faith can be ordered to pay statutory damages of up to twice the deposit, on top of actual damages.
Does California require notice before suing a business under its consumer protection law?
For a damages claim under the Consumers Legal Remedies Act (consumer purchases of goods or services), you must, at least 30 days before suing, notify the business in writing of the particular violations and demand that it correct, repair, replace or otherwise rectify the goods or services. Send it by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, to the place of the transaction or the business's principal place of business in California. A lawsuit asking only for an injunction does not need this notice.
Sources
- Cal. Code Civ. Proc. 116.221 (small claims limit)
- Cal. Code Civ. Proc. 116.320(b)(3) (demand before filing)
- Cal. Civ. Code § 1950.5(h)(1) (security deposit)
- Cal. Civ. Code § 1950.5(m)
- Cal. Civ. Code § 1782(a), (d) (Consumers Legal Remedies Act)
California rules checked against official sources on October 20, 2026.
Related
Know someone who could use this? Share this free tool: