Do attorney demand letters work?
The same questions are frequently asked at the beginning of client representation: “What do you think about issuing a demand letter from attorney to the opposite side?” and “How much does a demand letter cost?”. Attorney demand letters work well when executed correctly.
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How Much Does a Demand Letter Cost?
You may be asking yourself how much does it cost for a lawyer to write a letter? A demand letter can cost anywhere from $200- $1,500 depending on if you were to engage an attorney. If you decide not to engage an attorney, Law Depot provides good affordable options. For more complicated matters, a demand letter can easily cost up to $5,000, which is typically used for much larger disputes and issues. There are also options for a flat fee demand letter from attorney. Do attorney demand letters work? Simple answer, yes.
What is a Demand Letter From an Attorney?
A demand letter for payment is a letter that someone sends to demand something, such as a payment or action, or to negotiate a settlement out of court (to resolve a legal matter quickly). An LOD aims to settle the dispute without taking it to court. Do attorney demand letters work? While they may be costly, attorney demand letters work well if the payment sought outweighs the cost.
Do Attorney Demand Letters Work?
Demand letters can occasionally produce the desired outcome straight away, but in our experience, this is relatively uncommon. In our years of training, we have only sometimes encountered this. The belief that nothing worthwhile ever comes easily is true. More often than not, you must fight for justice. Demand letters occasionally have a side benefit that allows you to see how your opponent will respond, depending on the circumstances.
Why Send a Demand Letter?
There are several uses of a demand letter. Do attorney demand letters work?You send it to someone or a business to inform them that you intend to sue them for the money they owe you. The best part of a strong demand letter for payment is that, after receiving notice, sometimes the person or business will immediately pay you what is owed, thereby ending the need to pursue the matter further. Hence, you can bypass the time, effort, and money required to employ a lawyer who will handle the issue in court. Do attorney demand letters work?
The person or business may know that you are owed the money, but they have put it on hold or believe you don’t intend to pursue payment. Consequently, it might not be a deliberate unwillingness to pay, making them ignore you or give you little priority.
Of course, you have the right to get what you’re owed, so that’s still no justification for not paying. The second goal is to specify precisely what you are entitled to and what you anticipate. If there is a factual disagreement, this may lead to a discussion that could prevent you from having to go to court.
Related Read: Demand Letter – Sue a Car Dealer for Misrepresentation or Fraud
Common Types of Demand Letter
Do attorney demand letters work? Demand letters typically aim to resolve a breach of contract disagreement while demonstrating your sincerity in pursuing legal action against the addressee. There are several demand letters; one might be more suitable for your circumstance than another. If the letter you send isn’t for the intended reason, it could make your legal situation worse.
Demand letters typically take the following forms:
- Letters of demand for property damage claims
- Demands for personal injury claims
- Demand letters in a partnership dispute
- Demand letters for contract violations
- Stop payment Demand letters
- Demand letters for unpaid debt
- Demand letters for insurance claims
- Demand letters for NSF
Send us a message to get more information about our online attorney demand letters and cease and desist orders.
Differences Between Civil Complaints and Demand Letters
Similar legal and factual research is typically required for a good demand letter as a civil complaint. However, unlike a civil case, a demand letter does not begin the countdown to your adversary’s eventual accountability in court. Sometimes, prospective defendants disregard demand letters, thinking that they are probably merely bluffs and that the matter won’t become serious until after the Plaintiff brings suit.
Demand letters may also backfire because they offer your adversary more time than they would have otherwise to prepare their defenses. This can seriously hurt your ability to take the initiative in the case, which is essential for success. The most important rule is that you should never submit a demand letter threatening legal action unless you and your lawyer are prepared to see the case to a jury verdict. Failure to do so could seriously harm you and your attorney’s credibility.
Content of a Demand Letter For Payment
Typically, a LOD will describe the reason for writing it, demand payment or action by a specific deadline, and threaten legal action if no response is received. Also included are any supporting documents that could be used to support your claim.
For instance, you may include your Lease Agreement to specify how much the Tenant was required to pay to recoup outstanding rent. Similarly, you may refer to your Service Agreement to show what tasks the contractor was supposed to complete to resolve a problem with one of your contractors. Depending on why the letter is being written, a demand letter’s contents vary. The most typical demand letter formats often contain the following:
- Debt Owed: In a letter asking for debt repayment, the cause, sum, and original due date should all be mentioned. The letter must also include the parameters of any proposed settlement (commonly referred to as the “Terms of the settlement”), including the amount the creditor is willing to accept as payment and the date that payment is due.
- Action Needed: A letter requesting activity should specify the necessary action, such as finishing a project or offering a service.
- Insurance Claim: In a letter to an insurance provider, provide the claim number, the date of the incident, and any further information regarding the circumstance or accident (such as information about a motor vehicle injury and any hospital expenses). The settlement sum and response deadline should also be mentioned in the letter.
- NSF Check: Information concerning the check, such as the payment amount, bank name, and check number, should be included in a letter demanding payment following the return of a debtor’s check (an NSF or non-sufficient funds check). You can also ask to have your bank fees and postal charges covered.
- Stop Payment: Information concerning the check, such as the check number, payment amount, date of issue, and name of the bank, should be included in a letter demanding payment when a debtor places a stop payment on a check. The letter may also request reimbursement for postage and bank expenses.
Related Read: How to Send a Demand Letter for Payment of Services Rendered?
How to Write a Demand Letter
Do attorney demand letters work? Each of the following must be included in your demand letter for payment;
- Identify the facts – Don’t assume that everyone is informed. Even if you believe they do, you should still put your version of events in writing to record what happened in case you need to go to court. Someone unfamiliar with the scenario should be able to understand what happened with the help of the context. Included in the facts should be your efforts to settle the conflict. Cite correspondence, discussions, or other communications that show that going to court is a last resort.
- Cite supporting data – You don’t have to offer evidence (like a contract) if there is any, but you should refer to it. The agreement should not be annexed to your demand letter, but you should keep it in case you need to present it as evidence in court later. Mention any evidence the recipient may have access to in the letter. Even though it is forbidden, evident destruction nonetheless occurs. If you need to explain the evidence in court, it will be to your advantage if you are as straightforward as possible about what it is, how you know the receiver has it or controls it, and why it’s significant.
- Make a request – Be clear about what you desire. If more than one claim is in question, give a monetary value for each one. For instance, specify what to include in your request for compensation if someone harmed your property by driving on your lawn. Explain why you think the letter’s recipient owes you this money if there is a question of fact regarding whether or not they are genuinely to blame for the incident.
- Establish a deadline and a means of payment – Give a realistic due date based on the amount outstanding. If the amount is significant, you can even consider allowing for payment in installments. In either case, be specific about your expected arrival time and method.
- Suggest a punishment – Tell the receiver precisely what you plan to do if your demands are not satisfied (i.e., file a lawsuit). Keep in mind that extortion NEVER HAS A LEGAL REACTION. The only option left to you is to launch a lawsuit if the defendant refuses to abide by your demands. Never use the following as a threat:
- Damage or devastation to the person’s, their families, or business partners’ property
- Accuse the individual of a crime.
- Using a secret hurts someone’s reputation or makes them feel humiliated, ashamed, or blackmailed.
- Death or physical injury to the receiver or their family.
It’s okay to inform the other party that you’ll launch a lawsuit if your demands aren’t met. Any different kinds of threats are not permitted. Do attorney demand letters work? Simple answer, yes.
Things to Note While Writing Your Demand For Payment Letter
- Provide all the information required to demonstrate WHY, HOW, and HOW MUCH you should be owed. Omit any supporting evidence you may have if it might subsequently support your position, but the demand does not require it. Please keep it on hand in case you do end yourself in court. The effect of the letter will increase with its conciseness and clarity.
- Act professionally even though you represent yourself in the letter. Use appropriate language and spelling, and it’s always a good idea to have a friend or coworker proofread your work. Include the recipient’s full name, address, and date in the header, along with your full name and address. You can find online templates that can walk you through the format of a business letter.
- Read it from the recipient’s perspective before sending: Before you send the letter, read it from the recipient’s viewpoint. Recognize that the person is likely looking for an excuse to avoid paying you or even an excuse to blame you for the problem. Check your writing to make sure nothing can be used against you. It is best to speak with a lawyer and determine whether you are somewhat to blame before you send the letter if you are unsure.
- Send by certified mail: Sending legal correspondence with a return receipt is the best way to ensure it was received. Even personal delivery is up to debate, and it would be your word against theirs if the person in question claimed they hadn’t received it. When you send something certified mail with a return receipt, you’ll receive a letter in return with the recipient’s signed receipt. Once you receive it, store it safely until the problem is entirely remedied.
Related Read: How to Send a Demand Letter to a Landlord for Return of Security Deposit
How Should a Demand Letter for Payment be Sent?
By doing the following, you may be sure that the receiver receives your LOD:
- Sending it personally
- Getting a lawyer to do it for you
- Having a family member or trusted acquaintance deliver it on your behalf
- Sending it by registered mail, which provides delivery confirmation
Remember that sending your Demand Letter through email or SMS is not advised. This is so that the legal criteria for proof of delivery are not met by emails and text messages. When communicating via email or text, confirming essential details like the moment the communication was received, its content, and more can be challenging.
Next step After Letter of Demand
You should get a response from the receiver after sending a demand letter. The recipient might, for instance:
- Recognize the problem and cooperate with your request: A Demand Letter’s threat of legal action is frequently sufficient to compel the receiver to make a payment or take other action.
- Make a counteroffer in response: Accepting an offer is an option if you desire a rapid settlement and the terms are acceptable. If not, you can reject or keep negotiating.
- Disregard your letter: Send a follow-up letter, file a lawsuit, or get in touch with the receiver to ensure the letter was received if you don’t hear back by the deadline (the end date you specified in your letter). Consider seeing a lawyer if you’re unsure about what to do next.
Settlement
Accepting a settlement often entails making some concession, such as consenting to receive less money than was previously owned by the debtor. A settlement might occasionally be the best choice when resolving a legal matter due to the expense of litigation and the time needed to handle an issue in court. For instance, a creditor may propose a settlement in a debt collection letter if a debt hasn’t been paid on time (perhaps because the debtor can’t pay in whole or within a reasonable time) to at least partially recover the sum owed.
How Long Does a settlement Take After Sending a Demand Letter?
The receiver will require some time to respond after receiving your demand letter for payment. The process for obtaining a settlement will take much longer or much shorter, depending on the situation and the recipient’s decision. Sometimes, a settlement cannot be reached, and the parties must take their case to court. You can include settlement conditions in your Demand Letter to hasten a resolution so the recipient can accept or reject them without needing to engage in back-and-forth negotiations. It may take a long time, but attorney demand letters work in many scenarios.
What Should I Do If My Demand Letter Doesn’t Get a Response?
The next step would be to launch a lawsuit if your demand has not been ignored or the recipient rejects your demands in the letter. Trust the process, attorney demand letters work most of the time.
Can I Write My Letter of Demand?
Do attorney demand letters work? You can create your demand letter, of course. However, since employing them has legal repercussions, seek out legal counsel from litigation attorneys beforehand. If the conflict worsens, these implications—which aren’t always obvious—will impact how your case turns out.
When To Seek Legal Advice
After sending a demand letter and not receiving a response, you may file a lawsuit in small claims court or seek legal advice from a personal injury attorney. In small claims court, you can still represent yourself without legal counsel. The benefit is that the defendant must show up in court, and you are awarded a judgment by default if they don’t. Consider consulting an attorney if you’re unclear about what to include in a demand letter, how to word it, or whether your case is solid and convincing.
Going to court is seldom the best option because it takes time and money and has no guarantee of success. Thankfully, attorneys are aware of this as well. Most attorneys share your desire to settle outside of court. They’ll draft a firm demand letter that could encourage quicker payment or settlement because it comes from a lawyer’s office and may seem more “genuine” to your adversary. If the lawyer’s demand letter doesn’t have the desired effect, they will let you know your best next steps.
Conclusion
Do attorney demand letters work? Attorney demand letters work when proper steps are taken. Demand letters for payment are sent before a lawsuit is started. However, they can also be a valuable tool for settling conflicts out of court. Businesses frequently use demand letters and are commonly issued to request payment or restitution, but they can also be used to request particular actions.
Having your lawyer create a demand letter can be wise because it allows the recipient to make things right without being sued. These letters typically include a brief history of the dispute, a demand for a specific resolution by a particular date, a legal rationale for the demand or a reference to a contract clause, and a statement of the sender’s intentions if the demand is not satisfied. Do attorney demand letters work? Simple answer, yes.
