I Received a Letter from an Attorney. Now what?
While receiving a letter from an attorney can lead you to jump to worst-case scenarios, it does not always mean you’re being sued. Attorneys send letters for many reasons, whether it is formal communication or to resolve issues before they escalate into legal disputes. There is a broad scope of what type of letters exist.
Common Types of Attorney Letters
1. Demand Letters or Cease and Desist Letters
These are among the most common. A demand letter usually claims that you owe money, breached a contract, violated someone’s rights, or caused some kind of harm. It typically outlines: the issue, what the sender wants (payment, action, or cessation of behavior), and a deadline to respond. (See Demand Letters: What Are They and How Can They Help?)
Importantly, a demand letter is not a lawsuit. It’s often an attempt to resolve things informally before potential legal action.
2. Settlement or Negotiation Letters
Sometimes an attorney reaches out to explore settlement options. This can be in response to a demand letter, it can be on its own, it can also be in response to ongoing litigation. These letters may sound formal but are often an invitation to negotiate rather than escalate. (See Am I Admitting Fault By Offering To Settle?)
3. Notice Letters
These are informational. For example, you might receive a deficiency notice, a potential claim, or a change in legal status. They’re often required by law or contract before further action can be taken.
For example, the letter might say:
Dear __________,
__________, the Trustee of _________ Trust (the “Trust”), hereby gives Notice that it intends to enter into a Purchase and Sale Agreement pursuant to which the Trust will sell all of the Trust’s interest in that certain real property commonly known as ________ Street, Seattle, Washington.
Another notice letter might look like:
Dear __________,
This letter is to inform you that your discovery responses remain deficient. As you know, discovery was propounded on September 30, 2025. We received your written answers and document production on November 19, 2025.
After reviewing these responses and documents, you failed to provide complete responses. The purpose of this letter is to outline in more detail the incomplete answers and documents deficiencies in your discovery responses.
4. Request for Information or Documentation
An attorney may send a letter asking for records or documents to better understand a situation and gather important facts. This helps them decide whether there is a legal issue and how strong the case might be.
For example:
Dear __________,
I am writing this letter on behalf of my client, _________, to formally request your records pertaining to the listing and sale of the real property, commonly known as _________ Street, Seattle, Washington (the “Property”).
What You Should Do After Receiving One
1. Read It Carefully
Go through the entire letter, including attachments. Note the claims being made, any deadlines mentioned, and what the sender is asking for. Is it asking for a response? Is action being demanded by you? Is it a settlement offer with a deadline?
2. Consider Consulting Your Own Attorney Before You Respond
Depending on what the letter asks, it may require a response. If you are unsure what to do next, consider consulting an attorney. Our attorneys can help you understand what the letter is asking, whether the claims have merit, what risks you face, and how best to respond. o request a consultation, please contact Beresford Booth at info@beresfordlaw.com or by phone at (425) 776-4100.