Demand Letter in Pennsylvania

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 Pennsylvania law says

Small claims limit	$12,000, exclusive of interest and costs, for contract (assumpsit) and tort (trespass) claims and government fines and penalties. A plaintiff may waive the part of a larger claim over $12,000 to file in magisterial district court; the waiver is revoked automatically if the defendant appeals. Claims against Commonwealth parties and contract cases where title to real estate may be in question are excluded. Source: 42 Pa.C.S. 1515(a)(3)
Filing fee	Statutory base costs are $30 (claims of $500 or less), $40 (over $500 to $2,000), $50 (over $2,000 to $4,000) and $75 (over $4,000 to $12,000), but these were increased each year by inflation through 2024, so the amount charged is higher. Service costs are added, and filing and service costs are due when the complaint is filed. A party who cannot afford costs may ask for a fee waiver. Ask the magisterial district court for its current cost schedule. Source: 42 Pa.C.S. 1725.1(a), (f); Pa.R.Civ.P.M.D.J. 206, 206.1

Small claims limit

$12,000, exclusive of interest and costs, for contract (assumpsit) and tort (trespass) claims and government fines and penalties. A plaintiff may waive the part of a larger claim over $12,000 to file in magisterial district court; the waiver is revoked automatically if the defendant appeals. Claims against Commonwealth parties and contract cases where title to real estate may be in question are excluded.

Source: 42 Pa.C.S. 1515(a)(3)

Filing fee

Statutory base costs are $30 (claims of $500 or less), $40 (over $500 to $2,000), $50 (over $2,000 to $4,000) and $75 (over $4,000 to $12,000), but these were increased each year by inflation through 2024, so the amount charged is higher. Service costs are added, and filing and service costs are due when the complaint is filed. A party who cannot afford costs may ask for a fee waiver.

Ask the magisterial district court for its current cost schedule.

Source: 42 Pa.C.S. 1725.1(a), (f); Pa.R.Civ.P.M.D.J. 206, 206.1

Fill it in

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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 · Pennsylvania 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.