How to get your last paycheck — a guide for every state

If an employer is holding your final wages, the process is the same everywhere: confirm your state's deadline, document what you are owed, send a written demand letter, and file a wage claim if it is ignored. What changes state to state is the deadline, the statute, and the agency that handles the claim.

Pick your state below for the full step-by-step version, written for people who have never done this before.