The Power of a Demand Letter

Jan 12 - Written By William Hutchins

The Power of a Demand Letter

There is nothing more frustrating than having to seek the help of an attorney because someone refuses to give your money back for the deposit you made, they’re smearing your reputation on social media, or they are refusing to vacate your rental property. You just want a fair resolution to the dispute and, if possible, to avoid the costly and time-consuming effort to take them to court over it. A well-written demand letter is one of the best tools in your toolbox for a quick, cheap, and efficient resolution to a potential legal dispute.

You may be thinking, “I have already demanded that they give the money back, why do I need you to make a second demand for me?” The answer is simple. A well-written letter from an attorney has much more force behind it than your informal demand. It is often easy for people to resist and say no when dealing with someone who they are used to dealing with regularly. They may think you are in the wrong, that you won’t do anything about the situation, or even that they can get away with it. Opening a demand letter from an attorney shows that you are serious about the situation and that this is no longer something they can ignore, legal action is being threatened.

We see many cases that are resolved before ever making it to a courtroom because sometimes that letter is enough to push the other person to finally do what you have been trying to get them to do the entire time, and save you money in the process. While it is true that many cases cannot be resolved with a demand letter, you may be surprised at how many do get resolved in that way. It is VITAL that each demand letter is hand-crafted to the specific circumstances surrounding the dispute and handled in a professional manner, so make sure that it is being written by an attorney who you trust and you know will get the job done right.