LOCAL RULES

Alberta demand letter requirements

Your Alberta demand letter has 4 rules to meet. ReportDraft puts every one on your checklist and checks your draft before you sign.

  • 2 years to sue, 10 years at most
  • Court of Justice civil claims up to 100,000 dollars
  • A demand loan counted from the default after demand (s. 3 (3) (c))
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Alberta's Limitations Act gives you 2 years from when you knew, or ought to have known, that you were not paid, and never more than 10 years from when the claim arose. A part payment or a signed acknowledgement of the debt starts the period again. The Alberta Court of Justice hears civil claims up to 100,000 dollars. Here is each rule with its source.

Last reviewed November 3, 2026 against the official sources listed below.

Demand letterALBERTA / FREE CALCULATOR

Payment demanded

WhatDetails
Amount owing$4,250.00
Payment was dueAugust 31, 2026
Pay in full byNovember 17, 2026 (14 days after this letter)

Your deadlines (for your file, not printed on the letter)

WhatWhenRule
Last day to start a claimSeptember 1, 2028 (2 years from the day after payment was due, September 1, 2026)Limitations Act s. 3 (1) (a)
Outer limit, whatever happens10 years from the day the claim aroseLimitations Act s. 3 (1) (b)
A part payment or a signed written acknowledgement of the debtUnder the Limitations Act, starts the period again from that day if made before it runs outLimitations Act s. 8, 9 (1)
Where to file for this amountAlberta Court of Justice (civil claims): claims up to $100,000, not counting interest and costsCourt of Justice Act s. 9.6 (1); Alta. Reg. 176/2018 s. 2
Interest a court adds to a judgmentThe court adds interest from the day the claim arose to the judgment under this Act; interest agreed in your contract changes that, so read the sectionJudgment Interest Act s. 2

Counted from the dates entered. A court decides when a claim was discovered; when in doubt, start the claim sooner.

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What Alberta requires

  • A claimant who does not seek a remedial order within 2 years after first knowing, or when they ought to have known, of the injury, that the defendant caused it and that it warrants a proceeding loses the claim once the defendant pleads the ActLimitations Act, s. 3 (1) (a)
  • The Alberta Court of Justice hears civil claims for debt or damages of up to 100,000 dollars, not counting interest payable under an Act or by agreementCourt of Justice Act, s. 9.6 (1) (a) ยท Court of Justice Civil Procedure Regulation, s. 2
  • A claim based on a demand obligation arises when a default in performance occurs after a demand for performance is madeLimitations Act, s. 3 (3) (c)
  • Whatever the discovery date, the claim is lost 10 years after it aroseLimitations Act, s. 3 (1) (b)
  • For a claim to recover an accrued liquidated sum, such as a debt or interest, an acknowledgement or a part payment made before the limitation period expires starts the period again; an acknowledgement is an admission that the sum is due and unpaid and must be in writing and signed by the person liableLimitations Act, s. 8 (1) to (3) and 9 (1)
  • A court awards interest on a money judgment from the date the cause of action arose to the date of judgment, but not where there is an agreement between the parties about interestJudgment Interest Act, s. 2 (1), (2) (h)

Two years, and ten at most

Alberta counts 2 years from discovery and cuts every claim off 10 years after it arose, shorter than the 15 years most provinces allow. For a loan payable on demand, the claim arises only when the borrower defaults after a demand, so the date of your demand letter matters.

Acknowledgements and part payments

For a debt, an admission that the sum is due and unpaid, or any part payment, made before the period ends starts it again. The acknowledgement must be in writing and signed by the person who owes the money; it counts even if they refuse to pay.

Court and interest

The Alberta Court of Justice civil division hears debt claims up to 100,000 dollars, not counting interest owed under an Act or your agreement. The court adds judgment interest from the day the claim arose, unless you and the debtor agreed on interest.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming the 15-year outer limit used elsewhere: Alberta's is 10 years.
  • Accepting a verbal admission instead of a signed written one.
  • Starting in the Court of King's Bench for a debt the Court of Justice can hear.

Sources

Last reviewed November 3, 2026. Next review due February 3, 2027. This page explains published rules to help you write your report. It is not legal advice; the official text linked above governs.