A legal notice is a formal written demand that tells the other side what they owe, why, and what you'll do if they don't pay. It often settles the matter on its own - and for some claims it's a required first step.
Structure
- Sender and recipient - full names and addresses.
- Subject - "Legal notice for recovery of ₹X due under invoice / agreement dated ...".
- Facts - numbered paragraphs: the relationship, the agreement or transaction, the amount, the due date, your follow-ups.
- Legal basis - the contract, and any specific law (see below).
- Demand - the exact amount, interest if agreed or allowed, and a deadline (usually 15 days).
- Consequence - civil suit, consumer complaint, MSME reference, or other remedy, with costs.
- Signature - by you or your advocate.
Routes worth mentioning
- Unpaid MSME invoices: if you're a Udyam-registered micro or small enterprise, the buyer must pay within the agreed period (max 45 days), or 15 days if nothing was agreed; delayed payments carry compound interest at three times the RBI bank rate, and you can refer the dispute to the MSME Facilitation Council (Samadhaan portal).
- Security deposit: tenancy agreement + Limitation Act; most money claims must be filed within 3 years.
- Consumer disputes: the District Commission hears claims up to ₹50 lakh; file within 2 years, online on e-Jagriti.
- Unpaid salary / full and final: under the Code on Wages, wages of an employee who leaves must be paid within 2 working days.
- Commercial disputes of ₹3 lakh or more: pre-institution mediation is mandatory before suing (Commercial Courts Act, Section 12A), unless urgent relief is needed.
- Against the government: a 2-month notice under Section 80 CPC is required before suing.
Tone
Firm and factual. No threats beyond lawful remedies, no defamatory language, no copying the notice to the recipient's employer or family.
After the notice
- They pay: confirm receipt in writing.
- They reply disputing: keep it for the case.
- No reply: proceed with the remedy you named, within the limitation period.
Draft your notice - pick the issue and it adds the right legal basis and remedies.