When someone owes you money or fails to complete a contract that you entered into, writing a demand letter is often the first step taken before pursuing legal action. Whether the dispute is for unpaid debt or a shoddy construction job, it’s important to properly draft the letter to make sure it serves its intended purpose. It is not always necessary to hire an attorney to write the demand letter, but having one review your initial draft can help ensure that your letter complies with state and federal law and contains all the information required of the form.
In a demand letter, the facts of the dispute should be established in clear and concise language. This can include dates, specific laws and contractual provisions that were breached, and the resulting damages. A demanding tone should be used, but should also be polite and professional.
The demand letter should also state what resolution you are seeking and a firm deadline for their response. Depending on the circumstances, you may wish to specify that you are open to other forms of resolution outside of court, such as mediation.
A good way to write certified letter will include the consequences of failing to meet your demands, including a possible lawsuit. This is something that should have been spelled out in the original contract or payment agreement, but it’s important to remind the defendant of what will happen if they don’t follow through on their end of the deal.