How to Write a Demand Letter
Explain the dispute, cite the balance due, and set a firm deadline before you file suit.
Published October 26, 2025
A demand letter frames your claim before litigation. Judges and opposing counsel look for clear facts, an itemized amount, and a reasonable deadline. DemandLetterPDF keeps those pieces organized.
When to use this
- You're preparing a pre-suit demand for unpaid invoices, property damage, or other civil claims.
- An attorney or adjuster insisted on a written demand before considering negotiation or mediation.
- You need to memorialize settlement discussions in writing for the court record.
How to do it (fast)
- Lead with the parties' contact details and the date so the letter looks professional and ready for certified mail.
- Lay out the facts chronologically in the Background section, focusing on what you can prove with exhibits.
- State the precise amount owed, then explain how and when the recipient must pay (check, ACH, portal, etc.).
- List each attachment—contracts, screenshots, receipts—so the reader knows what evidence supports the demand.
Why this helps
- Courts prefer seeing that you attempted to resolve the dispute before filing suit.
- A written demand with a deadline helps you justify interest, fees, or treble-damage statutes.
- Generating the PDF locally keeps sensitive negotiation details off third-party servers.
Related tools
Not legal advice. Courts set their own rules. Keep your original records.