Demand Letter in Texas
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 Texas law says
| Small claims limit | $20,000, excluding statutory interest and court costs but including any attorney fees, for recovery of money damages, civil penalties, personal property or other relief allowed by law. Debt claim cases (by assignees, debt collectors, lenders) and tenant repair-and-remedy cases have the same $20,000 limit under their own rules. Source: Tex. R. Civ. P. 500.1(a)-(c) |
|---|---|
| Filing fee | The plaintiff pays the court's filing fee and any service fees when filing the petition. A person who cannot afford the fees may file a Statement of Inability to Afford Payment of Court Costs, which the clerk must provide free. Fee amounts are set by statute and county; ask the justice court clerk for the current fee. Source: Tex. R. Civ. P. 502.2(b), 502.3 |
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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 · Texas 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.