Landlord-tenant
Eviction notice letter
By Justin Winter · Updated August 20, 2026
The short answer
Before an eviction filing, the date the tenant received notice is often what gets questioned. Send it Certified with electronic Return Receipt, $14.99 all-in: USPS records when it was mailed and when it was signed for. Preview the exact pages free. Some states require other delivery methods too; this template is not legal advice.
The math
The math on one certified letter.
| Option | Cost | Your time |
|---|---|---|
| paperplane, Certified + Return Receipt | $14.99, all in | About two minutes |
| At the counter | USPS fees, plus printing, an envelope and the trip | About ten minutes at the counter, plus the drive and the line |
USPS charges the same fees whoever hands the letter over. The difference is the trip, the form and the slip you keep for a year.
This is the landlord-initiated notice — pay-or-quit, cure-or-quit, or an unconditional quit — that starts formal eviction proceedings. It is the flip side of a tenant's notice to vacate: same certified-mail proof requirement, opposite party.
Courts check the delivery first
Before an eviction case is even heard, most courts want proof the tenant received proper written notice — the right type, with the correct number of days. A certified mail receipt with an electronic Return Receipt is the standard way to show both when it was sent and when it arrived.
How it works
- Open the template, choose the reason and fill in the specifics.
- Pay $14.99 (Certified + Return Receipt) — mailed the next business day.
- Keep the tracking and delivery record for your court filing.
This template is a tool, not legal advice — eviction procedure and required notice periods are set state by state (and sometimes city by city). Confirm your local requirements, or consult an attorney, before filing.
Questions before you send
Why not go to the post office myself?
You can, and if your time is free it costs less. USPS charges the same fees whoever hands the letter over; paperplane does not replace the post office, it replaces the trip. The mailing record comes from USPS, not from us. $12.99 covers the printing, the envelope, PS Form 3800, a USPS address check before you pay and a handoff the next business day. For a letter you already know how to send, the counter is a fine choice.
What if they refuse the letter?
USPS tracking records what happened to it, including refused or unclaimed. You still have the mailing record. Rules on what that means vary, so check with your court or an attorney if a deadline depends on it.
If something goes wrong, do I pay?
If we cannot mail the letter, the hold on your card is released and you are not charged. If a letter fails after your card is charged, you are refunded automatically and in full.
What kind of eviction notice do I need?
It depends on the reason and your state: a "pay or quit" notice for unpaid rent, a "cure or quit" notice for a fixable lease violation, or an unconditional "quit" notice for serious violations. This template is a general starting point — the required notice period and exact language are set by your state.
Why does delivery proof matter here?
Courts generally will not hear an eviction case unless the landlord can prove the tenant received proper written notice, with the correct number of days. A certified mail receipt with electronic Return Receipt is standard proof of both the date sent and the date received.
Is this legal advice?
No — it is a template, not legal advice. Eviction procedure is heavily state- and city-specific (and sometimes requires notice methods beyond mail); confirm your local requirements or consult an attorney before filing.