Recovery 12 Oct 2026 8 min read

Legal notice format: free sample for recovery of money in India

What a legal notice is, what it must say, how to send it, and a free sample format for recovering unpaid money — with the cases where a notice is legally required.

Accellaw Editorial

A legal notice is a formal letter, usually sent by an advocate on behalf of a client, that tells the other side what your claim is, what you want them to do, and what you will do if they don't. Many disputes over unpaid money, deposits, defective goods or breached contracts end at this stage, because the notice shows you are prepared to go to court. It also creates a dated record of your demand, which helps if the matter does go further.

When a notice is legally required

Suits against the government or a public officer: Section 80 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 requires two months' notice before filing.
Cheque bounce: Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 requires a demand notice within 30 days of receiving the bank's return memo. See our separate guide to the Section 138 notice format.
Many contracts, tenancies and statutes require notice before termination, eviction or a claim — check yours.

In most other civil disputes a notice is not compulsory, but it is still the usual first step, and courts look favourably on a party that gave the other side a fair chance to settle.

What a legal notice should contain

The sender's and recipient's full names and addresses.
A short, accurate statement of facts, in date order: the agreement, the money or goods involved, and what went wrong.
The legal basis of the claim — the contract clause or law that was breached.
A clear demand: the exact amount or action required.
A deadline to comply, commonly 15 to 30 days from receipt.
The consequence of not complying — the civil or criminal proceedings you intend to start.
The advocate's name, enrolment number and signature, if sent through an advocate.

Free legal notice format for recovery of money

Sample — adapt to your facts

[On advocate's letterhead] Date: [DD Month YYYY] By Registered Post A.D. / Speed Post / Email To, [Name of recipient] [Full address] Subject: Legal notice for recovery of ₹[amount] due to my client Sir / Madam, Under instructions from and on behalf of my client, [client name], residing at / having its office at [address] ("my client"), I serve you with the following legal notice: 1. My client [describe the relationship — e.g. supplied goods to you under purchase order no. ___ dated ___ / rendered services to you under agreement dated ___ / advanced a loan of ₹___ to you on ___]. 2. Under [the agreement / invoice no. ___ dated ___], you were liable to pay my client ₹[amount] on or before [due date]. 3. Despite repeated reminders by my client on [dates and mode, e.g. email dated ___], you have failed to pay the said amount, which remains outstanding. 4. Your failure to pay is a breach of [the agreement / your obligations] and has caused my client loss. 5. I therefore call upon you to pay my client ₹[amount] along with interest at [__]% per annum from [date] until payment, within [15] days of receipt of this notice, by [mode of payment]. 6. If you fail to do so, my client will be constrained to initiate appropriate legal proceedings against you for recovery of the said amount with interest and costs, entirely at your risk as to costs and consequences. A copy of this notice is retained in my office for further action. [Advocate's name] Advocate for [client name] [Enrolment no., address, phone, email]

How to send it

Send the notice by registered post with acknowledgement due or by speed post, and keep the receipt and tracking record. Email and WhatsApp copies are useful too, as courts increasingly accept them as proof of delivery, but a postal copy remains the safest evidence. Under Section 27 of the General Clauses Act, 1897, a correctly addressed notice sent by registered post is presumed served even if the recipient refuses it.

After the notice

If they pay or agree to terms, record the settlement in writing.
If they reply disputing the claim, read the reply carefully with your advocate before responding — it shows how they will defend a case.
If they ignore it, you can file a civil suit for recovery. For commercial disputes of ₹3 lakh or more, Section 12A of the Commercial Courts Act, 2015 requires pre-institution mediation first unless you seek urgent interim relief.
Keep an eye on limitation: most money claims must be filed within three years under the Limitation Act, 1963. A legal notice does not stop that clock.