Legalnotis: frequently asked questions

No. Anyone can send a legal notice in their own name; no law requires an advocate. A notice on an advocate's letterhead can carry more weight, so choose 'An advocate' and Legalnotis drafts it in their voice for them to review and sign. For large amounts, criminal matters, property disputes, or if the other side has already gone to court, have an advocate handle it.

The notice must be sent within 30 days of receiving the bank's return memo. The drawer then has 15 days from receiving the notice to pay. If they don't, the complaint must be filed before the Magistrate within one month after those 15 days end. The cheque itself must have been presented within 3 months of its date. Use the deadline calculator on this page to get the exact dates.

For a cheque bounce notice the law fixes it at 15 days from receipt. For other claims there is no fixed period; 15 days is common and generally seen as reasonable, 30 days for larger or more complex demands. Before suing the Government or a public officer, Section 80 CPC requires 2 months' notice.

Courts have accepted email and WhatsApp service in several cases (the Allahabad High Court held this for Section 138 notices in 2024), but the safest practice is Speed Post or Registered Post A.D. to the physical address plus email the same day. Keep the postal receipt, tracking proof and screenshots.

The notice is your proof that you gave them a fair chance. Next steps depend on the claim: a cheque bounce complaint before the Magistrate, a consumer complaint on e-Jagriti, a reference to the MSME Facilitation Council through Samadhaan, a RERA complaint, a Labour Department complaint for wages, or a civil recovery suit. Every draft ends with the right next step and the date to act by.

Yes. Use the rate in your agreement if there is one. Micro and small enterprises are entitled by law (MSMED Act S.16) to compound interest at three times the RBI bank rate on delayed payments. Otherwise claim a reasonable rate; the court decides the final rate. The interest calculator on this page shows the amount.

It is compulsory for cheque bounce (Section 138) and for suits against the Government (Section 80 CPC), and commercial disputes of ₹3 lakh or more usually need pre-institution mediation first. For most other claims it is not compulsory, but it is strongly advisable: it often settles the matter and shows the court you acted reasonably.

Templates are generic and chatbots often cite the wrong section or miss deadlines. Legalnotis is built around Indian notice practice: it checks your time limits first, applies the specific Act for your issue, uses placeholders instead of inventing facts, lists the annexures to attach, and gives you the escalation route with dates. It does not replace an advocate's advice on your case.

Your first notice each day is free. After that, ₹149 / $3 buys one notice with up to 3 revisions (change the tone, add facts, switch to an advocate's letterhead, translate). Postage and any advocate's fee for signing are separate.