GetMyDepositBack

Landlord kept your deposit? Get it back.

Pick your state and find out exactly how long your landlord has to return your money, what happens if they miss the deadline, and how much extra you could win. Free — no account, no signup.

Free deadline lookup 50 states covered No account needed

How long does your landlord have?

Select your state. We'll show the legal deadline, the penalty for missing it, and the exact statute — free.

Not legal advice. This tool provides general information based on state statutes as of October 2026. Laws change and every situation is different. For advice about your specific case, talk to a tenant-rights attorney or your local legal aid office. We can't promise you'll win — nobody can. What we do: help you understand your deadline, write a proper demand letter, and file correctly.

How it works

1

Check your deadline

Pick your state above. If your landlord missed the legal deadline, they're already in a weaker position than they think — in many states they forfeit the right to deduct anything.

2

Send a demand letter

A proper letter citing the actual statute gets attention. The $19 kit generates one tailored to your state, your dates, and your deposit amount.

3

File if they ignore you

Most landlords pay after a real letter. If yours doesn't, the kit walks you through small-claims filing in your state — which court, which form, what to say.

The honest part: a demand letter works most of the time because landlords know the law too — they'd rather return your deposit than risk paying 2–3x in court. But nobody can promise your landlord will pay or that you'll win in court. What this kit does is make sure your letter is legally solid and your filing is done right, which is what actually gets deposits back.

Guides

The letter

How to Write a Demand Letter That Works

What to include, what to leave out, how to send it so it's provable, and the mistakes that kill letters.
If they ignore you

Suing Your Landlord in Small Claims

Which court, which form, filing fees, serving the landlord, and what to say at the hearing.
2x–3x your deposit

Penalty Guide: What Bad-Faith Withholding Costs Them

Which states award double or triple, what "bad faith" means to a judge, and why you ask for it.
The #1 fight

Cleaning Deductions & Normal Wear and Tear

What landlords can and can't deduct, the itemized-statement rule, and how to dispute bogus charges.

Deadlines by state

Every state sets its own clock. Pick yours for the full breakdown — deadline, missed-deadline consequences, penalty, and demand letter:

The Deposit Recovery Kit — $19 one-time

The free lookup tells you the deadline.
The kit gets your money back.

Everything you need to go from "they kept my deposit" to money in hand.

  • Demand letter generatorTailored to your state, your dates, your deposit amount — cites the actual statute. Copy, send, done.
  • Small-claims walkthroughWhich court, which form, filing fees, how to serve your landlord, and what to say at the hearing.
  • Deadline & penalty calculatorKnow exactly when the clock runs out and how much extra you're owed if they miss it.
  • Evidence checklistWhat to gather before you send anything — photos, receipts, communications — so your case is airtight.

DoNotPay charges $36/year for a generalist subscription.

$19one-time · yours forever

Get the kit — $19

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