Send a demand letter before small claims
Say who owes you what and why. Genie drafts the demand in a firm, factual tone, and we print and mail it.
First-Class from $4.99 · Certified Mail $14.99 with tracking and a delivery record
What this letter is
A demand letter states what you are owed, why, and what you want the other side to do about it by a specific date. Many small-claims courts expect — and some require — that you make a written demand before filing, and judges routinely ask whether you tried to resolve it first. The letter also does real work on its own: it puts the claim in concrete terms and gives the other side a deadline to respond.
What to put in it
- Who you are, who they are, and how you're connected (contract, purchase, tenancy, job).
- A short factual account of what happened, in date order.
- The exact amount you are demanding, and how you calculated it.
- A specific deadline for payment or a response — a date, not "soon".
- What you intend to do if the deadline passes, stated plainly and without threats.
- Copies of invoices, contracts, receipts or photos that support the claim.
A demand letter's value is evidentiary: it shows you asked, on a date, in writing. Certified Mail adds USPS tracking and a record of delivery, so "we never received it" is not available as an answer.
From a prompt to the post office in 3 steps.
- 1
Describe it
Say what happened in plain words. No forms, no templates to pick.
- 2
Genie drafts & checks
It writes the letter in the right tone and finds the recipient's address.
- 3
Preview and send
Approve the exact letter and we post it. Certified adds tracking and a delivery record.
Good to know.
Do I have to send a demand letter before filing?
It depends on your court and your claim — some require a written demand, many expect one, and some do not. Check your local small-claims rules. PostalGenie drafts and mails the letter; it does not advise you on whether or where to file.
Should I send it Certified?
For a pre-suit demand, most people do. Certified Mail is $14.99 and adds tracking plus a record of delivery, which is the document you would bring with you if the matter proceeds.
Can I attach the contract and invoices?
Yes. Attachments are printed and mailed behind your letter, up to 12 pages total, and Genie can pull the key information from them into the draft. Pages after the first are $0.49 each.
*PostalGenie is a technology tool, not a law firm. Letters generated through PostalGenie are not legal advice and may not satisfy specific legal notice requirements. Consult a qualified attorney for legal matters.
Other letters Genie sends.
Send a demand letter before small claims, today.
You say it. Genie writes it, addresses it, and gets it in the mail.
Start your letterDisclaimers
- Prices are shown exclusive of sales tax; applicable sales tax is calculated and added at checkout. The base price covers a one-page letter ($4.99 First-Class, $14.99 Certified Mail); for multi-page letters, $0.49 per additional page and a one-time $5.99 large-letter fee (7 or more pages) are added and shown before payment. The handwritten style is an optional $1.99 add-on, also shown before payment. Letters may be up to 12 pages.
- Genie is an automated AI system, not a person. It drafts each letter from the information you provide and does not add facts or claims you did not supply. AI-generated output may vary or contain errors; you are responsible for reviewing and approving the final letter, and no letter is mailed without your approval.
- Address lookup and verification rely on third-party data and are provided on a best-efforts basis. Accuracy is not guaranteed; you are responsible for confirming the recipient’s address before sending.
- Delivery times are estimates, not guarantees. Statutory deadlines, notice periods and filing requirements vary by state, contract and program — check the ones that apply to you.