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Unpaid Wages Demand Letter Template

A formal written letter demanding that your employer pay wages, overtime, or a final paycheck you are owed. Usable in any U.S. state. A documented demand is a useful first step before filing a wage claim with your state labor agency or suing. Let AI fill it in with your details. Ready to sign in minutes.

US Federal · Wage & Hour1 pagePDF · WordU.S. law

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DEMAND FOR PAYMENT OF UNPAID WAGES

[Date]

From: [Your name] [Your address]

To: [Employer name] [Employer address]

Re: Demand for payment of unpaid wages

Employment: [your job title and the dates you worked]

Wages I am owed

You have not paid me wages I earned. Specifically, I am owed: [describe the unpaid wages, overtime, or final paycheck and the period].

The law requires payment

Under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (minimum wage and overtime) and my state's wage-payment law, you are required to pay the wages I earned. I am requesting full payment of all wages owed.

My demand

Please pay all wages I am owed within [14] days of the date of this letter.

If I am not paid by then, I may file a wage claim with my state's labor agency and/or pursue my claim in court to recover the unpaid wages, plus any additional amounts, penalties, and costs allowed by federal and state law. I would prefer to resolve this directly.

Please treat this letter as my formal written demand for unpaid wages. I am keeping a copy and proof of mailing. Some wage claims require a specific pre-suit notice with its own deadline; confirm what your state and claim require.

Sincerely, [Your name]

What's in this template?

The Unpaid Wages Demand Letter template organizes the following sections in line with U.S. law. AI fills in the document automatically from the details you provide.

Re: Demand for payment of unpaid wages
Wages I am owed
The law requires payment
My demand

Frequently asked questions

Is this template legally valid?+

The template is drafted to follow the relevant statutes and, once signed, forms a valid document in most cases. Some matters may require notarization, a witness, or a specific format; consult a licensed attorney for your situation.

Can I edit it in Word?+

Yes. You can download the document as a PDF or an editable Word (.docx) file.

What does filling with AI mean?+

You answer a few questions; LawyerAI fills in the blanks and adapts the clauses for you.

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