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Demand Letters

Demand for Return of Property: Certified Mail letter template

Send this letter by Certified Mail

Pre-filled template, USPS tracking and Electronic Return Receipt

When someone keeps your property, whether a former partner, a repair shop, an ex-roommate, or a business, the law usually asks a threshold question: did you demand its return and did they refuse? A documented demand and refusal is often what converts simple possession into unlawful conversion.

That makes the demand letter more than a courtesy: it is evidence. Sent via USPS Certified Mail with Electronic Return Receipt, it proves what you demanded, when it was received, and that the holder kept the property anyway, the foundation for a replevin or conversion claim, or for involving law enforcement where appropriate.

This template describes the property precisely, recounts how the other party came to hold it, and sets a firm return deadline with practical arrangements.

This template is provided for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. For guidance on your specific situation, consult a licensed attorney in your state.

The letter template

The parts in blue and in brackets should be replaced with your information: they are pre-filled automatically when you use the template online.

Your contact details

Filled in automatically from the addresses step.

Recipient

Name and address entered at the addresses step.

Re: Demand for Return of Personal Property

Sent via USPS Certified Mail with Electronic Return Receipt

 

Dear Sir or Madam,

 

I am the owner of the following property currently in your possession: [describe the property precisely: make, model, serial number, quantity, distinguishing features, approximate value]. You obtained possession of this property on or about [date] under the following circumstances: [loan, repair, storage, end of a relationship or tenancy, business arrangement, etc.].

 

I have requested its return on [dates of earlier requests], without result. You have no legal right to retain this property, and your continued possession of it is without my consent.

 

I demand that you return the property to me, in the condition in which you received it, within [number of days, e.g., 10] days of your receipt of this letter. Return can be arranged by [pickup, delivery to your address, or another practical arrangement].

 

If the property is not returned within that time, I intend to pursue all available remedies, which may include a civil claim for the return of the property or its value, and reporting the matter to law enforcement where appropriate. The signed Electronic Return Receipt for this letter will establish that you received this demand.

 

Sincerely,

 

Mr. First name Last name

How to send this letter online

  1. 1

    Enter the addresses

    Your details and the recipient's: they are placed automatically in the letter heading.

  2. 2

    Personalize the template

    At the writing step, this template is ready to complete: replace the bracketed placeholders with your information.

  3. 3

    Review the exact preview

    What you see on screen is exactly what will be printed and mailed.

  4. 4

    We handle the rest

    Printing, sealing, and hand-off to USPS as Certified Mail. Proof of mailing and the Electronic Return Receipt are stored in your account.

Frequently asked questions

Answers to the questions we hear most often about this letter.

What details should I include about the property?

Everything that identifies it: make, model, serial numbers, distinguishing marks, photos, purchase receipts, and approximate value. Precise identification prevents the holder from claiming confusion and supports any later court filing or police report.

What if they claim the property was a gift?

Gift disputes turn on evidence of intent. Gather anything showing ownership and the circumstances: receipts, messages, witnesses. Your demand letter should state plainly that the property was never given away and that possession is without your consent.

Is keeping someone's property a crime?

It can be, depending on the circumstances and state law, particularly after a documented demand and refusal. Civil remedies like replevin or a conversion claim are the more common route, and your Certified Mail receipt is key evidence in either path.