Demand Letter Template
The formal 'pay up or else' letter that precedes small-claims court — and very often makes court unnecessary. Firm, factual, dated, and deadline-ed.
RE: FORMAL DEMAND FOR PAYMENT — Dear , This is a formal demand for payment of , owed to me for " / "the security deposit withheld from the tenancy at " / "repair costs from the incident on "]. The relevant facts are: 1. On , . 2. On , . 3. Despite , the amount remains unpaid. Copies of are enclosed. I require payment of by , by . If payment is not received by that date, I intend to pursue all available remedies without further notice, including filing a claim in , where I will also seek as permitted. I would prefer to resolve this without court involvement. If you dispute this debt, respond in writing by setting out your grounds. Yours faithfully, Sent by:
Using this for something that matters?
This free demand letter covers the standard situation. If real money, property, or an ongoing relationship rides on it, a professionally drafted version — or a quick attorney review of what you've filled in — costs little and removes the guesswork.
Ask any local attorney for a fixed-fee document review — most offer one.
How to use this template
- Send it with proof of delivery (registered post AND email). Courts like seeing that you demanded properly first — some tribunals require it.
- Keep it factual and cold; anger reads as weakness and gets screenshots shared. Dates, amounts, deadline, consequence.
- 14 days is the customary deadline: long enough to be reasonable, short enough to keep pressure.
These templates are general forms for informational purposes, not legal advice, and no attorney-client relationship is created by using them. Laws vary by state and country — have a licensed attorney review any document before you rely on it.
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