A demand notice is a formal written request from a creditor to a debtor, demanding payment for a debt that is owed. It is a document sent by one party to another in order to resolve a dispute, and it requests some form of restitution to the aggrieved party. Demand letters are generally written by a lawyer on behalf of an individual or corporation, although the sender may sometimes write it themselves. The purpose of a demand letter is to begin the negotiation process that will hopefully result in dispute resolution to avoid filing a claim in court if it is possible to resolve the issue without litigation. The letter usually contains directions on how to resolve the issue, including payment details and deadlines. In most cases, a demand letter is sent as a courtesy or a reminder after other attempts have been exhausted and before any legal action is taken. Certain state statutes may require prospective plaintiffs to send a demand letter to prospective defendants before they can claim a viable cause of action under the statute.