Got a demand letter? What to gather first
For education only. Not legal advice. Tellbrief is not a law firm.
When a customer, supplier or former partner says your business owes them, your lawyer will want to see what was sent, what was agreed and when each thing happened.
Records to have ready
- The letter, email or court papers you received, with the date each one arrived and how.
- Any contract, order or terms with the other side, plus emails that changed them.
- Invoices, payments and receipts that relate to it.
- Your messages with the other side, in order, including texts and chats.
- Notes on calls or meetings: who said what, and when.
Send them only if your lawyer asks. For the first call, knowing where each one is is enough.
Write down the timeline
One line per event: the date, what happened and who was involved. Start when the deal began and end with the letter. Mark anything you’re unsure about.
Note the dates
A letter or court papers may name a date. Write down when each one arrived, and ask your lawyer about timing soon.
Names come first
Have the other side’s full name ready, and the names of any people or companies acting for them.
Questions worth asking your lawyer
- What deadlines apply to this, and what are our options?
- Should we reply, and if so, when and how?
- What should we keep, and who should talk to the other side?
- Could our insurance cover any of this?
Tellbrief adds questions like these to your brief when your answers point to them.
Questions
Should I reply to the letter before I talk to a lawyer?
That’s a question for your lawyer. Bring the letter, the date it arrived and any reply you’ve drafted.
What if the amount is small?
Bring it anyway. Your lawyer can tell you whether it needs attention, and when.
Get your lawyer up to speed before the first call
About 30 questions, most of them one tap, free and with no account. Tellbrief turns your answers into a brief your lawyer can work from, and you keep a copy.
Start your brief →For education only. This article is general information for founders, not legal advice, and reading it doesn’t make you anyone’s client. Tellbrief is not a law firm. For advice about your situation, talk to a licensed lawyer.