Can I write one myself, or do I need a lawyer?

You can send your own — no law requires attorney letterhead, and courts accept self-written demand letters. Attorney demand-letter services typically run $249–$600 flat for a single letter. GitLaw drafts yours free, and you can still escalate to a lawyer if it's ignored.

What happens if they ignore it?

You escalate. Send a final notice with a hard deadline, then file in small-claims court — or hand it to a collections agency or attorney for larger debts. Your demand letter and certified-mail receipts become the evidence that you tried to resolve it first.

How much time should I give them to pay?

14 to 30 days is the usual range — long enough to be reasonable, short enough to keep pressure on. Some statutes set their own windows for specific claims: Massachusetts' consumer-protection law (Ch. 93A) requires a 30-day demand, and the Texas DTPA requires 60 days' notice.

Do I have to send it by certified mail?

It's usually not legally required, but certified mail with return receipt requested — plus an ordinary first-class copy — is the standard advice from courts and legal-aid guides. The receipt proves delivery, and that proof is exactly what you'll want in front of a judge.

Can I add interest, late fees, or legal costs?

Only what your contract provides or a statute grants. Under the American rule each side normally pays its own legal fees, so don't invent charges — an inflated demand is easier to ignore and can undermine you in court. If your contract has a late-fee or interest clause, GitLaw cites it precisely.

Is a demand letter required before small claims?

Sometimes, yes. California requires you to have demanded payment before filing (Code of Civil Procedure § 116.320), and statutory claims like Massachusetts Ch. 93A and the Texas DTPA make a written demand a formal prerequisite. Even where it's optional, judges expect to see that you asked in writing first.

When should I hand it to a lawyer or a collections agency?

When the debt exceeds your state's small-claims limit, the debtor is out of state or has stayed silent through your final notice, or you'd rather not spend the time. Collections agencies typically keep around 25% of what they recover; a flat-fee attorney letter is often the better first escalation.

Free demand letter

Demand what you're owed — in writing.

Tell GitLaw who owes you, how much, and what for. It drafts a formal US demand letter — certified-mail ready, with the paper trail small-claims courts expect. Free.

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The escalation path

Four steps, each one firmer. Click a step to read it.

Most invoices get paid at step two. Escalate only if they ignore you — every letter builds the paper trail a small-claims court will ask to see.

Previewing for [Client Name] · $4,800.00 for website design services

Example Company812 Fremont Avenue, Austin, TX 78704 [email protected] · (512) 555-0184

August 6, 2026

To: Accounts Payable [Client Name]

RE: DEMAND FOR PAYMENT — $4,800.00

To Whom It May Concern: This letter is a formal demand for payment of $4,800.00, due and owing to Example Company for website design services provided to [Client Name]. The amount is now 30 days past due, and our earlier reminder has gone unanswered. Demand is hereby made that you pay $4,800.00 in full within fourteen (14) days of the date of this letter. Late fees provided for in our agreement continue to accrue and will be added to any claim. This letter is sent by certified mail, return receipt requested. If payment is not received within fourteen (14) days, we intend to pursue the remedies available to us — including a claim in small-claims court — without further notice. If you dispute any part of this debt, notify us in writing within the same period.

Sincerely,Riley MorganRiley MorganOwner, Example Company

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GitLaw drafts with trusted templates from its library

Letter before action Late-payment demand letter (US)

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What sending a demand letter usually involves

Unpaid work drains cash and hours you can't bill. A formal demand letter shows you're prepared to follow through — and it's the first thing a small-claims court asks about. Law firms charge hundreds for one; yours is free.

$249–600what attorneys charge for one demand letter

14–30 daysthe deadline a demand letter typically sets

50 stateshave small-claims courts you can use without a lawyer

Published flat-fee pricing (JusticeDirect, xCounsel); Rocket Lawyer & TexasLawHelp guidance

Draft mine free

How it works

Tell it the facts

Who owes you, how much, and what for. Add the contract or invoice if you have them — GitLaw reads the payment terms for you.

Review your letter

A firm, factual demand letter built on your details — a clear deadline, stated consequences, and only the charges your contract actually provides.

Send it so it counts

Print and send by certified mail with return receipt, keep a copy in your workspace, and let GitLaw remind you when the deadline passes.

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