Know exactly what your state’s law says about your deposit
A self-help guide for renters handling a deposit dispute themselves — your state’s return deadline, deposit cap and penalty, each printed with the statute it comes from, plus the filing steps, the court, an evidence checklist and a blank demand letter you fill in yourself.
One guide for $19.99. Read it in the browser, download the PDF, come back to it from any device. No appointment, no hourly billing, no waiting for a callback.
13 states covered so far, each verified against its own statute.
We publish general information, not legal advice, and we are not a law firm. If you need advice about your own situation, please consult a licensed attorney in your state.
How It Works
A self-help guide you can act on today — no appointment, no hourly billing, no waiting.
Answer a short questionnaire
Tell us your state, what happened with your deposit, and roughly how much is involved. It takes about two minutes and there is nothing to upload.
We assemble your guide
Your answers select the right state guide and pull together the rules, deadlines and dollar thresholds that apply where you live.
Open it instantly, keep the PDF
Your guide opens the moment payment clears, as a private link you can bookmark and come back to on any device. Download the PDF and keep it, or work straight from the step-by-step plan, evidence checklist and a blank template letter.
Our guides are general information written for a general audience. They are not legal advice and we are not a law firm — if you need advice about your own situation, please speak to a licensed attorney in your state.
States Covered
Deposit rules are set state by state, so each guide is written for one state only. We currently publish thirteen — the deadline to return your deposit or itemize deductions, in each one:
California
Return deadline: 21 days after move-out
Statute last amended: 2024
✓ Facts verified 40 days ago
Read the California guide →Texas
Return deadline: 30 days after move-out
Amendment year not yet verified
✓ Facts verified 42 days ago
Read the Texas guide →New York
Return deadline: 14 days after move-out
Statute last amended: 2025
✓ Facts verified 42 days ago
Read the New York guide →Florida
Return deadline: 15 days (no deductions) or 30 days (if a claim is made)
Amendment year not yet verified
✓ Facts verified 42 days ago
Read the Florida guide →Illinois
Return deadline: 30 days for an itemized statement · 45 days to return in full
Statute last amended: 2024
✓ Facts verified 42 days ago
Read the Illinois guide →Pennsylvania
Return deadline: 30 days after the lease ends or you surrender the unit
Amendment year not yet verified
✓ Facts verified 42 days ago
Read the Pennsylvania guide →New Jersey
Return deadline: 30 days after the lease terminates
Amendment year not yet verified
✓ Facts verified 42 days ago
Read the New Jersey guide →Washington
Return deadline: 30 days after the tenancy ends
Amendment year not yet verified
✓ Facts verified 42 days ago
Read the Washington guide →Georgia
Return deadline: 30 days after the landlord gets possession back
Statute last amended: 2024
✓ Facts verified 42 days ago
Read the Georgia guide →Massachusetts
Return deadline: 30 days after the tenancy ends
Amendment year not yet verified
✓ Facts verified 42 days ago
Read the Massachusetts guide →Colorado
Return deadline: 30 days after the termination of the lease or the surrender and acceptance of the premises, whichever occurs last
Statute last amended: 2026
✓ Facts verified 28 days ago
Read the Colorado guide →Nevada
Return deadline: 30 days after the termination of the tenancy
Amendment year not yet verified
✓ Facts verified 28 days ago
Read the Nevada guide →North Carolina
Return deadline: 30 days after the end of the tenancy and the landlord's receipt of possession of the premises
Statute last amended: 2012
✓ Facts verified 28 days ago
Read the North Carolina guide →
Every state’s guide also covers that state’s deposit cap, the penalty for wrongfully withholding, and the route through its small claims court. More states are in preparation — we add one only after reading the statute itself. If your state is not listed above, please do not buy a guide for a different state; the rules and deadlines will not match.
Pricing
One payment, one guide, yours to keep.
Basic
No subscription. Not a service.
A blank demand letter template you fill in yourself
You write the letter yourself
- A state-specific PDF guide, written for your state only
- The deposit rules and deadlines for your state
- A step-by-step action plan, in order
- A checklist of evidence to gather before you write anything
- How to file in small claims court, including the filing fees
Premium
Everything in Basic, PLUS
5 scenario demand letters
damage · cleaning · unpaid rent · normal wear · early termination
- A state-specific PDF guide, written for your state only
- The deposit rules and deadlines for your state
- A step-by-step action plan, in order
- A checklist of evidence to gather before you write anything
- How to file in small claims court, including the filing fees
- 5 scenario demand letters — damage, cleaning, unpaid rent, normal wear, early termination
Delivered instantly as a download. 14-day refund window — see our Refund Policy.
This is a downloadable guide. It is general information, not legal advice, and buying it does not create an attorney–client relationship.
Disclaimer: Deposit Guide is an independent digital publisher of self-help legal information. We are not a law firm, we are not attorneys, and we do not provide legal advice, legal representation or legal services of any kind. Our guides are general information written for a general audience and are not tailored to your circumstances. They are based on publicly available information and should not be relied upon as a substitute for advice from a qualified attorney. Laws, deadlines and court procedures vary by state and change over time, so please verify anything you intend to act on.