Before you send your demand letter by mail, make sure you write a professional and effective demand for payment with confidence. If you need help with this, check out the 10 Steps to a Strong Demand Letter or quickly create one for free with JusticeDirect.

1. USPS Mail

Can a demand letter be sent by regular mail? In short, yes. However, if you use this method, consider how you will prove that you indeed sent the letter to your intended recipient demanding payment. Proof can be tricky, but fortunately, the next option offers an easy solution!

2. USPS Certified Mail or Registered Mail (Recommended)

Sending your letter demanding payment by certified mail ensures that the other side knows you are serious about getting your money back. You have to personally go to the U.S. Post office, stand in line, and pay for this service. Keep your receipt and bring it to court as evidence of your sent and delivered demand letter.

To save time and effort, use JusticeDirect to send your letter. JusticeDirect offers a service to automatically print and mail the demand letter generated on our platform. The demand letter will be sent by USPS Certified Mail to the recipient(s) you select. No need to worry about printing out the demand letter, going to the Post Office, standing in line, mailing it by certified mail, and keeping track of it.

3. Email

Enable Read Receipts

If you want to send the demand letter via email, check your email program for a “read receipt” feature and turn it on, if there is one. This feature provides a notification to you when the person opens the email.

Consider a Plugin

If your email does not have a “read receipt” feature, search for a free plugin that will provide proof that your emails were opened by the recipient. Print out the notification, as well as a copy of the email from your “sent” email folder.

Try This Workaround

If you cannot turn on reading receipts through your email program or through a plugin, just include yourself (“CC”) as recipient on the demand letter email so that you receive an exact duplicate of what the other person receives and print that out.

4. Facsimile (fax)

If you have access to a fax machine, you could fax the demand letter if you have the fax number of the person you are writing to. You may fax the letter, but most people use email these days.

5. Private Courier

If you can afford to do so, then consider using a private courier company to deliver the demand letter. You might be able to purchase a special service in which the envelope is delivered to and signed for by the person to whom it is addressed.

Key Things When Sending a Demand Letter

• Relationship that you have with the person
• Method that “feels right” given the current state of relations between you
• Method that is your personal preference
• Contact information that you have for the person
• Amount of money you are willing to spend.

As with every expense, keep your receipt! If you win your court case, the judge may award you extra costs on top of the amount you seek. Be sure to have receipts for all expenses related to reclaiming your property.

If you have to hand-write the letter, find a way to make photocopies. Local libraries and convenience stores almost always have photocopy machines, or you could visit a printing shop. Keep the receipt even if it only costs you one or two dollars. These “one or two dollar” items add up.