- Price
- from €11.95incl. VAT, 2 pages included
- Delivery time
- 2 to 3 business daysusually, after handover to the post
- Proof
- Recipient's signature+ tracking and proof of posting
- Handed to the post
- Upload by 12:00Central European Time on a business day, posted the same day
- Counts as
- Domestic registered mailprinted and posted in France
Does a mise en demeure have to go by registered mail?
Not as a rule. A letter that clearly asks for payment, with an amount and a deadline, puts the debtor on notice. The heading alone is not enough: the content counts.
In practice, send it by registered mail. The delivery date starts your deadline and the interest, and a court will ask for it. A plain lettre recommandée can be sent from anywhere; with an address in France, the LRAR adds the signed avis de réception.
| Lettre recommandée | LRAR (with avis de réception) | |
|---|---|---|
| What you get | Tracking, proof of posting and delivery against the recipient's signature | The same, plus the avis de réception: a card signed and dated by the recipient |
| Recipient signs | Yes | Yes |
| Handed to the post | Same working day if uploaded by 12:00 Central European time | Next working day at the latest |
| Delivery time | 2 to 3 business days | 2 to 3 business days |
| Who can send it | Any sender, wherever you live | Senders with an address in France |
| Good for | Cancellations, formal notices, claims, resignations | Letters where French law asks for LRAR, such as a tenant's notice |
| Price | €11.95 | €13.95 |
What does the formal notice change?
| Point | What happens |
|---|---|
| Late interest | At the legal rate, from the formal notice, without proving a loss |
| The date that counts | The date of the formal notice: keep the proof of delivery |
| Further loss | Damages on top, if the debtor's bad faith caused you another loss |
| No payment, under 5,000 euros | Conciliation or mediation before court, or a payment order |
| No payment, above that | Payment order (injonction de payer) or a court claim |
How do you send it, step by step?
- Write the formal noticeWhere the debt comes from, amount, deadline, next steps.
- Upload the PDFPut the recipient's address in the window area.
- We print it in FranceLa Poste delivers it against a signature.
- Keep the proofThe tracking number and proof PDF date the posting and the delivery.
Sample formal notice in French
Write to the debtor in French and add the invoice or contract to the same PDF. For a rental deposit, use [the deposit sample](/france/rental-deposit-registered-letter).
[Prénom Nom ou société]
[Adresse]
[Nom et adresse du débiteur]
[Ville], le [date]
Objet : mise en demeure de payer
Madame, Monsieur,
Par [la facture n° … du … / le contrat du …], vous me devez la somme de [montant] euros, qui devait être payée le [date]. Malgré [mes relances du …], elle reste impayée.
Je vous mets en demeure de me régler cette somme dans un délai de [8 / 15] jours à compter de la réception de cette lettre, sur le compte [IBAN].
À défaut, je demanderai les intérêts au taux légal à compter de cette mise en demeure et j'engagerai une procédure de recouvrement, comme une injonction de payer.
Veuillez agréer, Madame, Monsieur, mes salutations distinguées.
[Signature]
What to check before you send
- Set a short, dated deadline, for example 8 days from receipt. Note the day it expires as soon as you send it.
Frequently asked questions
Does a French formal notice have to go by registered mail?
Not as a rule: a clear demand is enough. Registered mail proves the posting and the delivery date.
What interest can I claim?
Interest at the French legal rate, from the date of the formal notice, without proving a loss.
How long should I give the debtor?
The law sets no general period. Eight or fifteen days from receipt are common.
What if the debtor still does not pay?
Depending on the amount: conciliation, a payment order (injonction de payer) or a court claim. Attach the formal notice and its proof of delivery.
Can a company abroad send a mise en demeure to a French customer?
Yes. Plain recommandé is open to every sender. Upload the PDF and we print and post it in France.
Does the registered letter prove what was in the envelope?
No. La Poste proves the posting and the delivery, not the text. Keep the PDF you sent: your proof of posting identifies that exact file.