A demand letter is a formal written request, signed by a lawyer, that someone pay what they owe, return property, finish a job or fix a problem by a specific date. In El Paso we write them constantly: for a homeowner whose roofer took a deposit and never came back, a tenant whose landlord will not return a security deposit, a small business with an unpaid invoice, a car buyer sold a vehicle with a hidden problem, or a family owed money by someone who keeps promising to pay. Many people who ignore a text message or a phone call respond within days when the same request arrives on attorney letterhead by certified mail.
Texas law often makes a written demand a required first step, not just a good idea. Under the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act, a consumer must give the business written notice of the complaint and the damages claimed at least 60 days before filing suit (Texas Business and Commerce Code Section 17.505). A landlord who fails to return a deposit within 30 days can face penalties under Property Code Section 92.109, but only after the tenant provides a forwarding address in writing. Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Chapter 38 allows recovery of attorney fees on certain contract and services claims, but only if the claim was presented first. A properly drafted demand letter checks each of these boxes.
Robert Navar reviews your contract, receipts, texts and photos, identifies the legal basis for the claim, and drafts a letter that states the facts, cites the applicable Texas law, sets a firm deadline and explains the consequences of ignoring it. You approve the draft, we send it by certified mail with return receipt and by email, and we keep the proof of delivery. There is no court appearance because there is no case yet — the letter is designed to end the dispute before one exists. A template from the internet does not carry the same weight, often cites the wrong law, and can accidentally waive rights or admit facts that hurt you later. Our demand letters and cease and desist letters are among the most affordable services we offer in El Paso.
Common demand letter situations in El Paso
The most frequent requests we see are unpaid invoices and personal loans, contractors and remodelers who abandoned a job, security deposits withheld by El Paso landlords, used-car and private-sale disputes, unpaid wages from a former employer, and damage to property caused by a neighbor or a business. Each has its own legal hook: contract law, the Property Code deposit rules, the DTPA, or the Texas Payday Law. The letter is tailored to the right one, in English or Spanish depending on who is receiving it.
A demand letter also works well before a small claims case. El Paso County Justice of the Peace courts handle claims up to $20,000, and a judge is far more receptive when the plaintiff can show a clear written demand that was ignored. If the recipient does not respond, you will already have the timeline, the proof of delivery and the legal theory laid out.
What happens after the letter is sent
Three things usually happen. The recipient pays or performs, which is the most common result for clear-cut debts. The recipient calls to negotiate, in which case we can handle the back-and-forth for an additional flat fee or coach you to do it yourself. Or the recipient ignores the letter, and you decide whether to file in Justice Court, pursue a different remedy, or let it go with a documented record. We are honest about which outcome is likely before you spend anything.
What's included
- Attorney review of your contract, receipts, messages and photos
- Custom demand letter on Law Office of Robert Navar letterhead, citing the applicable Texas law
- DTPA 60-day notice language when the claim is against a business
- One round of revisions after you read the draft
- Delivery by certified mail with return receipt, plus email copy
- Proof-of-delivery file kept for you in case you later file in court
- Brief follow-up call to discuss the response and next steps
How it works
Tell us the story
Call or come by our El Paso office and walk us through what happened. Send the contract, invoices, texts and photos by email or bring them in. We confirm the claim is sound and quote a flat fee.
We draft, you approve
Within two to three business days you receive a draft that states the facts, cites Texas law, sets a deadline and names the consequences. You review it, request changes, and sign off before anything is sent.
Send, track and respond
We send the letter by certified mail and email and track delivery. When the deadline passes we talk about what came back — payment, a counteroffer or silence — and what your best next move is.