Emerald Law LLC has acted on both sides since 1987.
Our letterhead carries weight yours does not. Most debts settle before court.
Issue a demand — from S$250
Silence reads as admission. An angry reply gets used against you.
Get my reply reviewed
Dear Sir or Madam,
RE: OUTSTANDING SUM OF S$48,500 2
We act for ABC Pte Ltd. We are instructed that by an agreement dated 3 February 2026, our client supplied goods to you which remain unpaid, in breach of the said agreement. 3
We hereby demand payment within fourteen (14) days of the date of this letter, failing which our client reserves the right to commence legal proceedings without further notice. 4
Yours faithfully,
Emerald Law LLC
A settlement attempt, so it usually cannot be shown to a judge. The label is not always effective.
Decides which court hears it, and often already includes interest and costs.
The first thing we test. A demand can be forcefully worded and still unenforceable.
Missing it does not mean you lose. It does mean you stop choosing what happens next.
| Amount | Heard at | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Up to S$20,000 | Small Claims Tribunals | File it yourself for S$10–20, within 2 years. Lawyers cannot appear |
| Up to S$60,000 | Magistrate’s Court | We act for you |
| Up to S$250,000 | District Court | Most commercial debt sits here. We act for you |
| Above S$250,000 | High Court | We act for you |
We will tell you in the first ten minutes if your claim belongs at the Tribunals, where we cannot represent you.
What matters is what you are prepared to do on day fifteen, and whether the other side believes it.
Properly pleaded, so it still stands up if it becomes a court document.
We test the claim, the timing and the amount before a word goes back.
Payment plans and settlement agreements that actually close the dispute.
Originating claims, seizure and sale, garnishee, bankruptcy.
Keith and Vivian guided me through every stage, from the first consultation to resolution.
Meticulous, and exceptionally clear when explaining my options.
You never feel like you are left in the dark.
No charge, confidential, same working day.
4.9 from 211 Google reviews. A Straits Times Best Law Firm in 2021, 2022, 2024, 2025 and 2026.
The claim does not go away and silence reads as admission. They can sue without writing again, and a judgment obtained in your absence can be enforced against your assets.
No. Nothing is filed anywhere. It is a formal warning with a deadline, and a record that you were given a chance to settle.
Yes. The difference is that a law firm's letterhead signals you are prepared to litigate, and the claim is pleaded so it holds up if it later becomes a court document.
Usually six years for contract and tort claims, two years at the Small Claims Tribunals. If you are near either limit, that changes the advice.
Yes, and confidential.
