Demand Letter in District of Columbia
A demand letter asks someone to pay or fix a problem before you go to small claims court. Many judges expect one, and it is useful evidence. Your state's small claims limit and fee are shown below.
What District of Columbia law says
| Small claims limit | $10,000, exclusive of interest, attorney fees, protest fees and costs, for actions seeking only money. Actions affecting an interest in real property (including evictions) cannot be brought in the Small Claims Branch. With all parties' consent, the Branch may resolve disputes of any amount by arbitration or conciliation (D.C. Code § 11-1322). Re-verified 2026-10-27. Source: D.C. Code § 11-1321 |
|---|---|
| Filing fee | Fees are set by the court. A judge may waive prepayment of costs, or costs that accrue during the case, if the plaintiff shows by sworn statement or other evidence that they cannot pay. Re-verified 2026-10-27. Source: D.C. Code § 16-3903 |
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[today's date]
To: [person or business name], [their address]
From: [your name], [your address]
This letter is a formal demand for $[amount demanded] for [what happened, with dates].
[Short list of facts and attached documents: contract, receipts, photos, messages.]
Please pay this amount by [payment deadline] by [payment method].
If I do not receive payment by then, I intend to file a claim in [court name] without further notice.
[your name] [phone or email]
Demand Letter for other states · District of Columbia tenant rights
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.