Notices · Legal
A legal notice is a demand, not a court order. A careful written reply — facts first, nothing admitted that you dispute — is usually the cheapest step in the whole dispute.
Quick Statutory Answer
A legal notice is a formal demand sent before a case, usually through an advocate. No general law obliges you to reply, and the period in it is the sender’s, not the court’s — but a written reply within that period, denying what you dispute and stating your facts, puts your side on record before anyone goes to court. For a commercial claim of ₹3 lakh or more, the sender must ordinarily try pre-institution mediation under section 12A of the Commercial Courts Act, 2015 before filing a suit.
| What | For this notice |
|---|---|
| Sent by | A person or business, usually through an advocate |
| Under | As cited in the notice — often the Indian Contract Act, 1872, or a specific statute |
| Reply in | A written reply by Speed Post or Registered Post A.D., with a copy by email |
| Deadline | The period the notice gives, usually from receipt — set by the sender, but reply within it |
| If ignored | The sender may go to court, and may argue that your silence did not dispute the allegations |
A fill-in format: replace every [bracket] with your own facts and delete what does not apply. Copy it, or download it in Word, free.
From
[Your name / name of the business] [Address]
Date: [DD/MM/YYYY] By Speed Post / Registered Post A.D. [and email]
To
[Name of the person who sent the notice] [Address] [Through their advocate, [name], [address], if the notice came from an advocate]
Subject: Reply to your legal notice dated [date], received on [date]
Sir/Madam,
1. I/We have received your notice dated [date]. Every allegation in it is denied, except what is specifically admitted in this reply. Nothing in this reply is to be read as an admission of any liability.
The facts
2. [Set out the facts in your own order — the contract or transaction, its date, what each side agreed and what each side did. Refer to the documents by date.]
Reply to the allegations
3. As to paragraph [ ] of your notice: [answer — denied / not correct because / admitted only to the extent that …].
4. As to paragraph [ ] of your notice: [answer].
Your demand
5. The demand of Rs. [amount] is [denied in full because … / denied beyond Rs. [amount], which is the only amount due and which I/we am/are ready to pay on [terms]].
Conclusion
6. You are called upon to withdraw the notice. Any proceedings you choose to bring will be defended at your risk as to costs. I/We reserve all rights and remedies, including in respect of [any counter-claim].
[Your name / name of the authorised signatory] [Signature]
Generally no — a legal notice is the sender’s demand, not a court order, and no general law obliges a reply. But an unanswered notice can be used to argue that you did not dispute it, so a short written reply that denies what you dispute is usually worth sending. Some laws attach their own consequences: for a cheque bounce notice, the fifteen days under section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act matter.
The notice usually states a period, often 15 or 30 days from receipt. That period is set by the sender, not by law, but replying within it avoids the argument that you ignored it.
Yes, you can reply in your own name. For a dispute that may end in court, an advocate’s review is worth it, because what the reply says can be used later.
By Speed Post or Registered Post with acknowledgement due, to the address on the notice and to the advocate who sent it, with a copy by email. Keep the receipt and the tracking record.
An explanation of the rules, not advice on your notice. The date printed on your notice governs, and a demand of any size deserves a CA or an advocate before you reply.