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How much time should you give in a demand letter in Quebec?
Short answer
Québec law imposes no fixed deadline. Article 1595 of the Civil Code of Québec requires “sufficient time for performance, having regard to the nature of the obligation and the circumstances.” In practice, 10 days is the most commonly granted deadline; you drop to 24–72 hours for a genuine emergency and extend it for a complex obligation to perform.
What the law says exactly
“An extrajudicial demand by which a creditor puts his debtor in default must be made in writing. The demand must allow the debtor sufficient time for performance, having regard to the nature of the obligation and the circumstances; otherwise the debtor may perform the obligation within a reasonable time after the demand.”
: Article 1595, Civil Code of Québec (LégisQuébec)
Two lessons stand out from this text. First, the deadline must be sufficient: it's assessed according to what you are asking for: paying a sum, carrying out a repair, stopping a behaviour. Second, a deadline that is too short does not make your demand letter invalid: it simply lets the debtor perform the obligation within a “reasonable time,” which can delay your recourse.
What deadline for which situation?
These benchmarks reflect common practice: they don't replace an assessment of your particular situation:
| Situation | Usual deadline | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Payment of a sum of money (rent, invoice) | 10 days | Paying requires no particular preparation. |
| Non-urgent repair | 10 to 15 days | Time is needed to line up a contractor or materials. |
| Emergency (heating in winter, water leak, infiltration) | 24 to 72 hours | The emergency justifies a short deadline: document it. |
| Stopping a behaviour (noise, harassment) | Immediate to 10 days | Stopping a behaviour can be required with no preparation time. |
| Complex obligation (major work) | 15 to 30 days | The deadline must be realistic for the performance requested. |
When does the deadline start running?
The deadline you grant runs from the moment the recipient receives the demand letter: not from the day you write it. That is why the receipt date has to be demonstrable. With registered mail, it depends on when the recipient accepts the delivery, which can take several days. With certified email, delivery happens within a few minutes and section 31 of the LCCJTI lets you establish the exact time:
“The time of sending or of receipt of a document may be established by producing a transmission slip or an acknowledgement of receipt or the information kept with the document providing it guarantees the date, hour, minute and second of sending or receipt and indicates the source and destination of the document, or by any other agreed method that provides the same guarantees.”
: Section 31, para. 4, LCCJTI (LégisQuébec)
How to word the deadline in your letter
Be precise and verifiable. Avoid “as soon as possible”: prefer wording such as: “You must remedy the situation within ten (10) days of receiving this letter, failing which I will take the appropriate recourse without further notice or delay.” Clearly state what is being asked, the deadline, and the consequence of default.
For the full drafting, see our guide writing a demand letter yourself. Once your letter is ready, send it by certified email so the deadline starts running today, with proof to back it up.
Frequently asked questions
How much time should you allow in a demand letter in Québec?
The law imposes no fixed deadline. Article 1595 of the Civil Code of Québec requires “sufficient time for performance, having regard to the nature of the obligation and the circumstances.” In practice, 10 days is the most common deadline; you allow less for an emergency (24 to 72 hours) and more for a complex obligation.
What happens if the deadline given is too short?
The demand letter isn't invalid for that reason: article 1595 C.C.Q. provides that the debtor may then perform the obligation within a reasonable time after the demand. A deadline that is too short therefore delays your recourse instead of speeding it up.
When does the deadline start running?
From the moment the recipient receives the demand letter. That is why proof of the receipt date is decisive: with a certified send, section 31 of the LCCJTI lets you establish that time through an acknowledgement of receipt or the timestamped information kept with the document.