Demand letters
How do I demand my final paycheck from a former employer?
Updated · By the Certified Letter Online team
Federal law doesn't require employers to pay your final paycheck immediately; state law sets the deadline, and it varies widely. Send your former employer a dated written request for your final wages (and any accrued pay your state requires), including your mailing address, by Certified Mail with return receipt. If it isn't paid by your state's deadline, file a wage claim with your state labor department.
California is one of the strictest: final wages are due immediately when you're fired, and within 72 hours if you quit without notice, and an employee who quits without notice can ask for the check to be mailed (Labor Code 201 to 203).
| Rule | Source |
|---|---|
| No federal deadline for the last paycheck | U.S. Department of Labor |
| State deadlines (vary by state and by fired vs. quit) | Your state labor office |
| California: immediately if fired; 72 hours if you quit without notice | California Labor Commissioner |
| Wage claims | State labor department (forms and deadlines vary) |
What to put in the letter
- Your name, job title, last day worked and how employment ended.
- The pay owed: final wages, and any accrued vacation or commissions your state requires.
- The address where the check should be mailed.
- A request for payment by your state's deadline. Our final paycheck request has the wording.
Notes
This guide is general information, not legal advice. For your specific situation, a legal aid office or a licensed attorney in your state can tell you what applies.
Quick answers
Should I send the final paycheck request certified?
Yes. It proves when you asked and gave your mailing address, which matters for penalties in states like California.
Can my employer mail my final paycheck?
Often yes, especially if you ask. In California, an employee who quits without notice can request payment by mail.
What if they still don't pay?
File a wage claim with your state labor department and attach your letter and USPS receipts.
What to do next
Fill in the final paycheck request and we'll mail it Certified with return receipt for $17.99.
Request my final paySources
- U.S. Department of Labor: Last paycheck
- U.S. Department of Labor: State labor offices
- California Labor Commissioner: Final pay FAQ
Checked: . General information, not legal advice. Fees and rules change: confirm current values at the official links above.