Got a demand letter. Find out if they have a leg to stand on.
Demand letters are designed to sound scary. Sometimes they are. Sometimes they're not. Attorly reads the letter, tells you what's actually being demanded, how realistic the threat is, and what your next move looks like.
Analyze this letterNot legal advice: This page explains, in plain language, how a legal document typically works. It is general information — not legal advice about your specific situation. If the stakes are meaningful, or a deadline is close, speak with a licensed lawyer before relying on anything you read here.
What a demand letter is and isn't
A demand letter is a formal request — usually from a lawyer — asking you to do or stop doing something, often accompanied by a threat of litigation if you don't comply. It is not a court filing. No judge has reviewed the allegations. You have not been sued.
That said, ignoring a demand letter is usually a bad idea. Most civil lawsuits in the are preceded by a demand, and courts sometimes consider whether you responded when setting attorneys' fees or damages. The letter is also a preview of what the complaint will allege if one is filed.
Attorly reads the letter, separates the legal claims from the negotiation posture, and tells you which threats have teeth and which are bluffs — so you can respond proportionately.
How it works
Get clarity on any legal document in three steps
Upload your document
Drag in a PDF, Word file, or image scan. Any format, any language.
Attorly analyzes it
Our AI reads the full document, flags risks, extracts deadlines, and identifies what matters most for your situation.
Read your plain-language report
You get a clear breakdown: what the document says, what you need to do, and whether you should talk to a lawyer.
What Attorly finds in a demand letter
We separate the legal substance from the intimidation tactics.
What they actually want
Whether they're demanding money, a specific action, a retraction, or something else — and whether the amount or demand is clearly stated.
The legal basis for their claim
What law or contract provision they say you violated — and how strong that legal basis actually appears.
Your response deadline
Most demand letters give you 7–30 days to respond. Attorly extracts the exact deadline and explains what happens if you miss it.
Whether the threat is credible
Not every demand letter leads to a lawsuit. Attorly looks at the specificity and strength of the claims to help you gauge how seriously to take this.
Your response options
Ignore, pay, negotiate, or dispute — Attorly maps out your realistic paths forward without telling you what to do.
Statute of limitations check
Some demand letters rely on stale claims. Attorly estimates the statute of limitations for the claim and flags whether the underlying dispute may already be time-barred.
The "reasonable" settlement range
Demand letters almost always anchor high. Attorly estimates a plausible settlement range based on the claims, so you know what an actual resolution would cost — not what the letter asks for.
How to respond (or not)
Four steps that apply to almost every demand letter.
- 1
Don't respond emotionally or off the cuff
Every email, text, or voicemail you send after receiving the letter can be used against you. If you must acknowledge, a short "we've received your letter and will respond by [date]" is enough.
- 2
Identify the actual legal claim
Most demand letters mix real legal claims (breach of contract, defamation) with aggressive framing. Attorly pulls the real causes of action so you can evaluate the risk of an actual lawsuit.
- 3
Preserve every document and communication
Emails, invoices, contracts, screenshots, messages. Deleting anything after a demand letter arrives can create a separate spoliation claim that's worse than the original dispute.
- 4
Decide: respond, negotiate, or stay silent
Each path has costs. A written response locks you in. A negotiation invites more. Silence may or may not trigger a lawsuit. Attorly helps you evaluate which response fits the specific claim and the specific counterparty.
Common questions about demand letters
Related situations we help with
Lawsuit or summons
Find out exactly what you've been accused of and what you need to do before the deadline.
Read moreDebt collection notice
Find out if the debt is legitimate, how the fees are calculated, and what you can dispute.
Read moreContract review
Spot the risky clauses and hidden obligations before you put your name on it.
Read moreKnow what they want before you respond
Upload the letter. Get a clear breakdown in under 60 seconds.
Analyze this demand letter