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Demand Letter
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
Step 1
Upload your document
Drag in a PDF, Word file, or image scan. Any format, any language.
Step 2
Attorly analyzes it
Multiple AI models review your document independently — flagging risks, extracting deadlines, and identifying obligations and key terms. Independent review means nothing gets missed.
Step 3
Know exactly what to do
More than a summary — Attorly gives you a clear action plan: what matters, what to do about it, and in what order. Handle it yourself or bring a lawyer in fully prepared.
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
Upload to Attorly — know where you stand
Before you react, respond, or call anyone — start here. Upload the document and multiple AI models review it independently: claims, deadlines, risks, obligations, and your realistic options. In minutes you have a clear action plan. Most people find they can handle more than they expected — and if you do need a lawyer, you'll walk in fully prepared.
- 2
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.
- 3
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.
- 4
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.
- 5
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
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Upload the letter. Get a clear breakdown in under 60 seconds.
Analyze this demand letter