Demand Letter
Formal demand for payment or a refund before small claims: amount, deadline, evidence, and your state's small-claims court and limit — the letter judges expect to see first.
View largerWhat you'll get
Sample first page of the Demand Letter. Your answers fill in the blanks; the clauses required in your state are added automatically.
- Word
Choose your state
Select a state to load the correct statutory rules.
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Compare Demand Letter rules in all 50 states
Key statutory numbers side by side. Click a column header to sort, or type to find your state — each state name opens the state-specific generator.
| Alabama | $6,000.00 | District Court (small claims docket) | 60 days after move-out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $10,000.00 | District Court (small claims) | 14 days after move-out |
| Arizona | $3,500.00 | Justice Court (small claims division) | 14 days after move-out |
| Arkansas | $5,000.00 | District Court (small claims division) | 60 days after move-out |
| California | $12,500.00 | Superior Court, small claims division ($12,500 for individuals; $6,250 for businesses) | 21 days after move-out |
| Colorado | $7,500.00 | County Court (small claims division) | 30 days after move-out |
| Connecticut | $5,000.00 | Superior Court (small claims session) | 21 days after move-out |
| Delaware | $25,000.00 | Justice of the Peace Court | 20 days after move-out |
| District of Columbia | $10,000.00 | Superior Court, Small Claims and Conciliation Branch | 45 days after move-out |
| Florida | $8,000.00 | County Court (small claims) | 15 days after move-out |
| Georgia | $15,000.00 | Magistrate Court | 30 days after move-out |
| Hawaii | $5,000.00 | District Court (small claims division) | 14 days after move-out |
| Idaho | $5,000.00 | Magistrate Division (small claims department) | 21 days after move-out |
| Illinois | $10,000.00 | Circuit Court (small claims) | 45 days after move-out |
| Indiana | $10,000.00 (confirm with the court clerk) | Small claims docket of the Circuit or Superior Court | 45 days after move-out |
| Iowa | $6,500.00 | District Court (small claims) | 30 days after move-out |
| Kansas | $4,000.00 | District Court (small claims) | 30 days after move-out |
| Kentucky | $2,500.00 | District Court (small claims division) | 60 days after move-out |
| Louisiana | $5,000.00 | City Court / Justice of the Peace Court (small claims) | 30 days after move-out |
| Maine | $6,000.00 | District Court (small claims) | 30 days after move-out |
| Maryland | $5,000.00 | District Court (small claims) | 45 days after move-out |
| Massachusetts | $7,000.00 | District Court / Boston Municipal Court (small claims) | 30 days after move-out |
| Michigan | $7,000.00 (confirm with the court clerk) | District Court (small claims division) | 30 days after move-out |
| Minnesota | $20,000.00 (confirm with the court clerk) | Conciliation Court | 21 days after move-out |
| Mississippi | $3,500.00 | Justice Court | 45 days after move-out |
| Missouri | $5,000.00 | Circuit Court (small claims division) | 30 days after move-out |
| Montana | $7,000.00 | Justice Court / District Court (small claims) | 10 days after move-out |
| Nebraska | $3,900.00 (confirm with the court clerk) | County Court (small claims) | 14 days after move-out |
| Nevada | $10,000.00 | Justice Court (small claims) | 30 days after move-out |
| New Hampshire | $10,000.00 | Circuit Court, District Division (small claims) | 30 days after move-out |
| New Jersey | $5,000.00 | Superior Court, Special Civil Part (Small Claims Section) | 30 days after move-out |
| New Mexico | $10,000.00 | Metropolitan Court / Magistrate Court | 30 days after move-out |
| New York | $10,000.00 | Small Claims Court ($10,000 in New York City; $5,000 in city courts outside NYC;… | 14 days after move-out |
| North Carolina | $10,000.00 | District Court, small claims (magistrate) | 30 days after move-out |
| North Dakota | $15,000.00 | District Court (small claims) | 30 days after move-out |
| Ohio | $6,000.00 | Municipal / County Court (small claims division) | 30 days after move-out |
| Oklahoma | $10,000.00 | District Court (small claims) | 45 days after move-out |
| Oregon | $10,000.00 | Circuit Court / Justice Court (small claims) | 31 days after move-out |
| Pennsylvania | $12,000.00 | Magisterial District Court | 30 days after move-out |
| Rhode Island | $5,000.00 | District Court (small claims) | 20 days after move-out |
| South Carolina | $7,500.00 | Magistrate Court | 30 days after move-out |
| South Dakota | $12,000.00 | Magistrate Court (small claims) | 14 days after move-out |
| Tennessee | $25,000.00 | General Sessions Court | 30 days after move-out |
| Texas | $20,000.00 | Justice Court (small claims case) | 30 days after move-out |
| Utah | $15,000.00 | Justice Court / District Court (small claims) | 30 days after move-out |
| Vermont | $5,000.00 | Superior Court, Civil Division (small claims) | 14 days after move-out |
| Virginia | $5,000.00 | General District Court (small claims division) | 45 days after move-out |
| Washington | $10,000.00 | District Court (small claims department) | 30 days after move-out |
| West Virginia | $10,000.00 | Magistrate Court | 60 days after move-out |
| Wisconsin | $10,000.00 | Circuit Court (small claims) | 21 days after move-out |
| Wyoming | $6,000.00 | Circuit Court (small claims) | 30 days after move-out |
No state matches — try the two-letter code.
Values are shortened; open the state page for the full rule and its citation.
What this document covers
- What is owed, why, and the exact amount with interest or fees
- A firm deadline and how to pay
- Evidence listed and attached
- The small-claims court and dollar limit in your state
- Notice that you will sue, plus costs and interest you will seek
- Security-deposit version with the state's deposit statute
- Delivery record for the court file
How to use this Demand Letter in US
Write the facts in order with dates, state the exact amount, give 10–14 days, and say you will file in the Justice Court (small claims case) (limit $20,000.00).
Send by certified mail with return receipt plus email, keep copies of everything, and file the claim the day after the deadline passes if nothing arrives.
Other names
- demand letter template
- demand for payment letter
- final demand letter
- letter before action
- security deposit demand letter
- demand letter for unpaid invoice
- demand letter small claims
- notice of intent to sue
- collection letter
- demand for refund letter
Related documents
Blank Demand Letter forms by state
free, no account · PDF + Word
Choose your state ▾
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
FormsByState provides self-help document templates and general information, not legal advice. We are not a law firm. For advice about your situation consult a licensed attorney in your state.