How to send a demand letter (mise en demeure) in Québec
The law requires a demand letter to be in writing and to allow sufficient time for performance (art. 1595 C.c.Q.). It imposes no sending method. What matters is being able to prove that the recipient received it, and on what date: that date starts the deadline you are giving.
The 4 sending methods and their proof
1. Certified email: $14.99, sent today
You upload your letter, we send it by certified email, and you receive a timestamped proof report (date, time, origin, destination) consistent with the LCCJTI (s. 31). No printer, no trip. Use an email address the recipient actually checks, ideally one they have already used with you.
2. Registered mail: $15-25, 5 to 10 business days
Canada Post's traditional method. You get a signed acknowledgment of receipt, but you have to print the letter, go to the post office, and accept the risk that the recipient never claims the envelope.
3. Bailiff: $70-150, the most formal proof
A bailiff delivers the letter in person and draws up a certificate of service. It is the most expensive option; it makes sense when the recipient is hard to reach or disputes everything.
4. Hand delivery: free, but fragile without a written trace
You hand the letter directly to the recipient. Have them date and sign a receipt, or bring a witness: without that trace, the recipient can deny ever receiving it.
Which method should you choose?
No method is "more legal" than another: a demand letter's value comes from its content and its proof of receipt, not the channel. Choose based on your situation: certified email when the recipient already communicates by email, registered mail when all you have is a postal address, a bailiff for the most contentious cases.
When in doubt, double up: nothing prevents sending the same letter by certified email and registered mail. The admissibility of any evidence, paper or digital, is weighed case by case by the judge.
Before you send: the checklist
- The letter is written and dated (verbal demands are not enough, art. 1595 C.c.Q.)
- It allows sufficient time for performance (often 10 days, depending on the circumstances)
- It states the facts, what you are asking for, and what you will do otherwise
- You have chosen a sending method that produces proof of receipt
- You keep a copy of the letter and of the proof
Send your demand letter today
Upload your letter or fill in a free template, then send it by certified email with a timestamped proof of receipt. No account required.
Frequently asked questions
Can I send a demand letter by email?
Yes. The law imposes no sending method: it requires a written demand and sufficient time (art. 1595 C.c.Q.). A certified email produces a timestamped proof of receipt consistent with the LCCJTI (s. 31), which an ordinary email does not. Admissibility is weighed case by case by the judge.
Is registered mail mandatory?
No. Registered mail is a habit, not a legal requirement. Any method that proves reception works: certified email, registered mail, a bailiff, or hand delivery against a signed receipt.
How much does sending a demand letter cost?
Certified email costs $14.99 with Locato, registered mail roughly $15 to $25 plus the trip, and a bailiff between $70 and $150. Having a lawyer draft the letter generally costs $500 to $1,500, but nothing requires it.
When does the deadline I give start running?
From the recipient's reception of the letter, not from its sending. That is why proof of the reception date is the most important part of the send: note that date and wait for the deadline to expire before your next step.
What if the recipient refuses the registered letter?
An unclaimed envelope complicates the proof without blocking your remedies: keep the delivery attempt notice. You can also double up with another method, such as a certified email to an address the recipient actually uses.