The reply to Legal Notice should be made within the stipulated time by the receiver with the aim to resolve the dispute. A legal notice is a written document that serves as a formal correspondence between the parties involved in a specified matter. 

A notice is sent to convey the intention before the legal proceedings and make the other party aware of the grievance.

The objective of a legal notice is to display the intention of the party to initiate legal proceedings. The main aim of giving an opportunity to the other party to reconsider his position and to make amendments. 

It secures the public good by avoidance of unnecessary litigation. In this blog, we will discuss the key points for response to legal notice.

What are the points to remember while writing a reply to legal notice?

The legal notice must be replied in the timeframe prescribed by the sender, if not replied in the given timeframe it can be beneficial to the addressee. The following are the given points that must be kept in mind:

• • Reading the legal notice carefully – It is important to read the notice properly to understand the issue and other concerns that are raised by the other party. When the receiver of the legal notice feels that the matters raised in the legal notice could be resolved amicably then a conversation should be initiated immediately.

• • Contacting the lawyer- If the contents of the legal notice are not clear, then for drafting a reply to legal notice a lawyer must be contacted who can further legal action in the matter. The receiver should keep a record of the time of receiving the legal action which will be advantageous even if the matter is taken to the court by the opposite party.

• • Description of the reply– The response must be planned in order to be broad or specific or both which depends on the context and subject of the notice or communication that has been received. The purpose of the notice is to protect the receiver from making any claims that might harm the position of the receiver in the current legal situation. The one thing to keep in mind is to reply to legal notice every communication with the other party contributes to the strength of the legal case.

• • Briefing the lawyer- This shall be done with utmost care and the matter shall be explained to the hired attorney. You should provide all the required details to the lawyer about the evidence.

• • When a lawyer is consulted then one must remember that both the sender’s and lawyer’s signatures are needed to reply to the notice.

• • Sending a reply- The reply notice is sent either through a registered notice or courier, once the lawyer drafts the reply notice on your behalf. The lawyer keeps a copy of the reply notice for future reference. You can also download the reply to legal notice format pdf from google.

What are the benefits of a legal notice?

The legal notice has the following benefits as follows:

• • Warning – A notice acts as a warning against the recipient as it ensures that the recipient is an aware of the duties that have to be performed by him the consequences of non-compliance.

• • Resolution of dispute – A chance is given to both parties to resolve their dispute which can be by negotiation, mediation or arbitration without going to the matter before the court.

• • Amicable settlement – The litigation process is time and money-consuming thus it is preferable to directly settle the matter via legal notice is much easier and a quick process. While writing the reply to legal notice for defamation, the accurate incidents held must be mentioned and contest the information made in the notice.

• • Out-of-court settlement – A legal notice includes the complaint of the party which is inclusive of all the necessary facts. It stipulates the relief and the legal remedy required by the party. It is made very clear in the given notice that the grievances can also be sorted in an amicable way if the other party is agreed to and within the prescribed time. One essential thing you should remember is that a notice is a communication tool.

• • Mutual understanding – A legal notice can be productive in the procurement of the desired result rather than oral communication. A reply to legal notice for breach of contract bring a mutual understanding between the two parties.

• • Cost friendly – A notice is a very powerful tool and not so costly. The cost of the notice may differ from the office and the complexity of the issue involved.

• • Record – It is in a form of a written record that a valid relief was sought from the receiving party before going to the court.

How to draft a reply to the legal notice?

The following steps to legal notice reply format are as follows:

Step 1: Before drafting the reply, it is important to read and understand the content of the legal notice precisely.

Step 2: The applicable laws for the draft a reply to legal notice and with reference to the sending a legal notice shall be studied thoroughly.

Step 3: In most legal notices, there will be a time limitation for replying and if not done within the mentioned time frame, it might lead to heavy penalties or some other undesired consequences. It shall be made sure that the timeline for replying to the legal notice is taken care of.

Step 4: Designate the reply properly. The matter of the reply plays a vital role. It shall be followed by the reference of the legal notice to which the reply is being made. You can download the sample reply to legal notice India from google.

Step 5: Each paragraph of the legal notice should be answered pointwise. The first para of the reply must either deny all the allegations or justification of each of them.

If it is mentioned in the notice to submit any documents in the notice, then the documents should be attached as an annexure to the reply.

What are the key points for a reply to the legal notice for recovery of money?

When you receive the legal notice in the format of a legal notice for the recovery of money, you need to respond to it within the specified period. The things you should be aware of in reply to legal notice for recovery of money are: –

1. After you receive a notice, you must examine it carefully to know the raised matter by the sender. If the issue is not understood, the lawyer should be consulted.

2. When you have decided that you need to settle in court then you need to give an explanation your side of facts and concerns to the lawyer.

3. In the last step, you must draft and reply to the sender.

Conclusion

Getting a legal notice is very common because there are various contracts that people enter into on a daily basis. It is important to go through the legal notice and write a reply to legal notice that is best suited for oneself. A fast reply should be provided and efforts should be made to settle the situation through arbitration, negotiation, or mediation instead of dragging the matter to the court which involves more time and money.

Most Frequent Asked Questions

What is drafting in law?

Drafting is an outline of a document that must be completed. It is like a preliminary draft from which a final document is formed. In simple words, it is the process of creating legal documents. The main benefit is conveying a concise understanding of the significant details of the problem.

Is it compulsory to reply to a legal notice?

It is not mandatory to response to a legal notice yet it is advisable to send a reply to the notice. If you fail to send a reply to a legal notice, the sender may use it as an advantage and while drafting the petition it may blame you for not adhering to the requirements of the notice for which the case has been filled.

Can a person reply to legal notice without the help of a lawyer?

Yes, you can send a legal notice without a lawyer but there are some legal complexities that a legal expert can understand and use. In simple words, once a notice is served, you cannot deviate from the contents of the notice in court.

What happens if someone sends a legal notice?

The notice results in the communication of grievance caused to the sender which may take recourse to civil or criminal law remedies. It is advisable to hire a lawyer for drafting the notice.

What is the time period to reply to legal notice?

In the legal notice, the time limit varies from case-to-case basis from 15 to 45 days. You must stipulate the time within which you expect the other party to fulfill the demands.

How do I write a legal notice reply?

Once the notice is received, the receiver can contact a lawyer and brief the situation by giving data about facts, times and occasions identified. After giving the descriptions, the lawyer will draft the response and send it as a reply to the notice.

What does the legal notice reply format?

The legal notice act as a sign that a lawsuit is being prepared by the aggrieved against the receiver and when you want to avoid legal action. You can send the reply to legal notice from employer stating the things in favor of the employee.