Colorado final paycheck demand letter template
A Colorado final-pay demand letter should state whether the employer ended the job or you resigned, the applicable payday, and when and how you requested payment.
A demand letter is a written payment request and record of the dispute. It does not guarantee payment or replace advice from a licensed attorney.
The rule your letter should reference
Fired or laid off
Final wages generally due immediately upon termination (or within 6 hours of the start of the next workday if payroll staff are off-site)
Quit with notice
Final wages generally due on or before the next regular payday
Quit without notice
Final wages generally due on or before the next regular payday
Authority
C.R.S. § 8-4-109What gives the letter weight in Colorado
Colorado law may add penalties after wages remain unpaid, but the calculation and demand process depend on current law and the facts. Verify the current requirements with CDLE rather than placing an unconfirmed amount in your letter.
List any earned, determinable vacation pay separately because Colorado generally requires it to be paid at separation.
Use your facts and the Colorado deadline to create your demand letter →
Annotated letter structure
1. Identify yourself and your employer
Use your full name and mailing address, then identify the employer and the person responsible for payroll or HR.
2. State how and when the job ended
Give your last day worked and say whether you were fired, laid off, or resigned; that fact determines the Colorado deadline.
3. List the unpaid wages
Identify unpaid regular wages, overtime, commissions, bonuses, vacation, or expenses separately when they apply. If the amount is uncertain, demand all earned wages due.
4. Cite the applicable deadline
State the applicable timing rule and cite C.R.S. § 8-4-109 without claiming that every exception has been resolved.
5. Make a clear payment demand
Ask for the full amount due by a clear date and explain that you may contact the wage agency if the issue remains unresolved.
6. Preserve proof of delivery
Keep the PDF, sent email, postal receipt, tracking result, and any reply together with your wage records.
After you finish the letter
Save the signed letter as a PDF. Send it to a person responsible for payroll or HR, keep the sent email, and consider Certified Mail with Return Receipt for a separate delivery record.
If the response date passes, review the filing instructions from the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, Division of Labor Standards and Statistics. Keep the letter, delivery records, pay stubs, time records, and messages about payment.
Colorado demand letter FAQs
What should a Colorado final paycheck demand letter include?
Include the parties, last day worked, how the job ended, wages believed due, the Colorado deadline, a clear request for payment, and a response date.
When are final wages due after being fired in Colorado?
They are generally due immediately upon termination (or within 6 hours of the start of the next workday if payroll staff are off-site). Exceptions can apply, so confirm the rule with Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, Division of Labor Standards and Statistics.
Should I send the letter by certified mail?
Certified Mail can create a dated delivery record. Emailing the same PDF can provide an additional record, but neither method guarantees payment.
Where can I file a wage claim in Colorado?
The relevant agency is Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, Division of Labor Standards and Statistics. Review its current eligibility and filing instructions before submitting a claim.
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Create my Colorado demand letterRelated Colorado resources
General information, not legal advice. Last Check GPT is not a law firm. Laws change and exceptions apply; verify current requirements with the official sources above.