Your Deposit Recovery Workflow
From deadline calculation to court filing — everything you need to get your security deposit back, step by step.
Six steps from deadline to court filing
Calculate your legal deadline
Enter your state and move-out date. We look up your state's specific security deposit return law and calculate the exact date your landlord must return your deposit.
Document your evidence
Upload move-in and move-out photos, lease documents, and receipts to your Renter Vault. Timestamped cloud storage you can access from any device.
Generate a demand letter
If your landlord misses the deadline, generate a formal demand letter citing your state's statutes and penalties. Most landlords pay after receiving one.
Auto-fill official court forms
If the demand letter doesn't work, auto-fill the official small claims court forms — Statement of Claim and Fee Waiver — with your case data. Ready to print and file.
Get your exact filing court and instructions
We determine the exact small claims court where you need to file based on your rental property address, with personalized filing instructions.
Print, sign, and file
Download your completed forms as PDFs, print them, sign where indicated, and file at your designated court. We provide everything except legal advice.
From Deadline to Court Filing
Most security deposit disputes never reach court. Calculating your deadline and sending a demand letter resolves the majority of cases. But when a landlord ignores your letter, you need to escalate.
Deposit Deadline handles the entire pre-filing paperwork: from the initial deadline calculation through the official court forms you file at the courthouse. We auto-fill the real forms — not templates or drafts — with your case data so they're ready to print, sign, and file.
You don't need a lawyer for small claims court. It's designed for self-representation. Filing fees are typically $30-100, and if you win, the court can order your landlord to reimburse them.
Why deadlines matter
State laws mandate specific return windows—typically 14 to 60 days after move-out. These aren't suggestions. They're legal requirements.
If your landlord misses this deadline, they may owe you penalties—sometimes double or triple the amount wrongfully withheld in some states, plus attorney fees.
But here's the problem: most renters don't know their deadline. They wait weeks, then months, unsure if their landlord is even late. By the time they realize their rights were violated, it's harder to take action.
If your landlord misses the deadline
Penalties vary by state
Some states allow you to recover double or triple damages. Others award the full deposit automatically. Many allow you to recover attorney fees if you have to sue.
Documentation is critical
Knowing your exact deadline—and being able to prove when it was—strengthens any claim. That's why we document your deadline with a timestamp when you save it.
Small claims court
Most deposit disputes can be handled in small claims court without a lawyer. The filing fee is usually $30-75, and you can often recover that too if you win.
How we calculate
Transparency matters when legal deadlines are involved. Here's exactly how our calculator works and where our data comes from.
Data sources
We reference each state's landlord-tenant statutes directly. Every deadline in our system comes from published state law. We cover all 50 states, and each deadline is sourced from the relevant statute governing security deposit returns.
Deadline calculation logic
We add the state's required number of days to your move-out date. Most states use calendar days for their return window. Arizona is a notable exception, using business days instead. Our calculator accounts for this distinction automatically.
Weekend and holiday handling
If a deadline falls on a weekend or federal holiday, some jurisdictions extend it to the next business day. When this applies to your result, we note it so you know the adjusted deadline and why it was moved.
Accuracy and disclaimers
This tool provides general legal information, not legal advice. Laws change, and while we verify our data regularly, we recommend consulting an attorney for specific situations. Our state data was last verified in 2025.
What makes us different
Deposit Deadline is completely free, covers all 50 states, and gives you instant results. No account is required for basic calculations—just select your state, enter your move-out date, and get your deadline.
Free account
Upload your lease and get everything you need to recover your deposit — deadline tracking, demand letters, evidence vault, and official court forms.