A legal notice for unpaid invoice is a written demand that tells your client to pay a named invoice by a set date. We help you draft it, and our in-house notary public notarises it, in person, online or at home. It suits a supplier, contractor or freelancer who has chased the client and still has no payment.
WhatsApp +971 52 947 5935 with a photo of the invoice.
The notice does not collect the money by itself. It records that you asked in writing, what you asked for and when. That record matters if the matter goes further.
At a glance
Send it after your own reminders have failed, not instead of them.
Name the invoice, the amount and a clear date for payment.
Attach the invoice and your proof that the client received it.
Notarising gives the notice a clear date and a verified signature.
We prepare and notarise the notice. We do not represent you in court.
When to send a legal notice for unpaid invoice
A legal notice for unpaid invoice is the next step when the client has ignored friendly reminders. Typical cases:
- The invoice is past its due date and emails and calls get no answer.
- The client says it will pay and does not.
- The client disputes the work and you want its position in writing.
- You plan to go further and want a clean record first.
If the client has a real dispute about the work, a notice may start a discussion rather than end it. Keep your tone factual.
What the notice should include
A payment demand notice works when it is specific. Include:
Your full name or company name, and your address
The client's full name or company name, and address
The invoice number, date and amount
What the invoice was for, in one or two lines
The date payment was due
A clear date by which the client must pay now
A short statement of what you may do if it does not pay
Your signature and the date
Leave out insults and long stories. Short, plain sentences are easier for the client, and for anyone who reads the notice later, to follow. Our page on legal notice format in the UAE shows what each part should say.
Attaching the invoice and proof of delivery
Attach the documents that support the claim:
- The invoice, or invoices, being claimed
- The contract, quotation or purchase order
- Proof that the client received the invoice, such as an email with the date shown
- Your earlier reminders and any replies
A notice with no invoice attached forces the reader to guess what you mean. If the documents are in Arabic or English, they can go as they are. A document in another language needs a certified translation by a legal translator registered with the UAE Ministry of Justice.
Send us your question
Tell us the document, who signs it and where it will be used. We reply with the route, the list of what to bring and your price.
Notarising and serving the notice
Our in-house notary public checks your identity, watches you sign and notarises the notice. Notarial acts in the UAE are regulated by Federal Decree-Law No. 20 of 2022.
You can notarise:
In person at our Business Bay office
Online by video, through the UAE remote notarisation channels such as the Ministry of Justice e-Notary system
At home, where we come to you
After notarising, the notice must reach the client. Keep proof of how and when it was sent. Ask us how to serve your notice, because the right method depends on the client and on what you plan to do next.
Next steps if the invoice stays unpaid
If the client still does not pay after the date in your notice, you have more than one route. A notice does not choose the route for you. Talk to a practising advocate about the claim, because court work is for advocates. We prepare and notarise the document, and we do not represent people in court.
Keep a folder with the invoice, the contract, your reminders, the notice and the proof of delivery. This is the file an advocate will ask for first.
Watch for
Mistakes to avoid
- Skipping the invoice number or the amount
- No clear date for payment
- Threatening steps you do not intend to take
- Sending the notice with no proof of delivery
- Signing before the notary appointment
- Using the notice to argue a dispute that needs an advocate
Cost
Price
Our fee for a legal notice for unpaid invoice depends on how long it is and what it needs. We quote it after we read your invoice and your draft. Government and notary fees are separate and paid at cost. Our page on legal notice cost in the UAE explains what you pay to draft and notarise one.
If a translation is needed, legal translation is from AED 50 per page.
How we help
How we help
We draft your notice, our in-house notary public notarises it, and we hand it to you. We work in person, online and at home, in Dubai and across the UAE. See our page on legal notices in the UAE and our guide to a breach of contract notice if the problem is a broken contract and not only an unpaid invoice.
Frequently asked questions
How do I send a legal letter for an unpaid invoice?
Write a short notice that names the invoice, the amount and a payment date, attach the invoice and proof of delivery, sign it before the notary and keep proof of how it was sent. We can draft and notarise it for you.
What should a legal letter for non payment of invoice say?
It should name both parties, the invoice number, date and amount, the due date and a clear final date to pay. Keep it factual and short.
How do I take legal action for non payment of invoices in the UAE?
A notice is a first step, not the claim itself. If the client still does not pay, speak to a practising advocate about the next step. We prepare the notice and the documents, and we do not represent you in court.
Can a legal notice be sent by email in the UAE?
You can send a copy by email as a reminder, but a notarised notice is a stronger record. Ask us how to serve it for the situation you have.
Related guides
Next step
Get your notice drafted
WhatsApp or call +971 52 947 5935, 24/7, or email support@notarypublicindubai.com. Tell us the document and where it will be used, and our in-house notary public team will tell you the next step.
