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Demand Letters

Notice of Intent to Sue: Certified Mail letter template

Send this letter by Certified Mail

Pre-filled template, USPS tracking and Electronic Return Receipt

A notice of intent to sue is the formal last word before litigation. For some claims it is legally required, notably many suits against government entities, which have short claim-notice deadlines. For everyone else, it serves two purposes: it triggers serious settlement attention, including from insurers, and it documents that litigation was a last resort.

The letter should read like the opening of a complaint: parties, facts, legal basis, damages, deadline. Sending it via USPS Certified Mail with Electronic Return Receipt gives you a signed, dated record that the defendant knew a lawsuit was coming and declined to resolve it, a record that also frames any later discussion of costs.

This template organizes those elements and invites the recipient to involve their insurer or attorney.

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: Notice of Intent to Initiate Legal Proceedings

Sent via USPS Certified Mail with Electronic Return Receipt

 

Dear Sir or Madam,

 

This letter is formal notice of my intent to file a lawsuit against [name of the person or business] arising from the following matter: [concise description of the dispute: what happened, when, and where].

 

The basis of my claim is as follows: [summarize the facts and the obligation breached: contract terms, payment owed, damage caused, statutory duty]. My damages to date amount to [amount claimed], calculated as follows: [brief breakdown of the amount].

 

I have attempted to resolve this matter without litigation, including [prior demands, calls, mediation attempts, with dates], but no resolution has been reached.

 

Unless this matter is resolved in full, or a written settlement is agreed, within [number of days, e.g., 15] days of your receipt of this letter, I will commence legal proceedings without further notice and will seek all relief available, including damages, interest, and recoverable costs.

 

You may also wish to forward this letter to your insurer or attorney. It is sent by Certified Mail with Electronic Return Receipt, and the signed receipt will be used as evidence that you received this notice before suit was filed.

 

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.

Is a notice of intent to sue legally required?

For most private disputes, no, but it is standard practice and highly persuasive evidence of good faith. For claims against cities, counties, states, or their agencies, a formal notice of claim is often mandatory within strict deadlines, sometimes just a few months after the injury.

Does sending this letter stop the statute of limitations?

No. A demand or notice letter does not pause the limitations clock. If your deadline is approaching, the letter is not a substitute for filing; get legal advice about the applicable limitations period before it expires.

Will this letter push the other side to settle?

Often, yes. A specific, documented notice that names an amount, cites the basis, and sets a filing date tends to reach decision-makers, insurers, and lawyers in a way that phone calls do not. If it does not, it becomes the first exhibit in your case.