Security Deposit: legal information and a practical guide to security deposit. Security-deposit disputes have firm deadlines: most states give a landlord 14–30 days to return the deposit or send an itemized list of deductions. Miss that window and many states let the tenant recover two to three times the amount withheld. Photos from move-in and move-out, your lease, and the forwarding address you provided are the evidence that wins these cases. Can you handle security deposit yourself? In most situations, yes — the steps are straightforward once you know the deadlines and what evidence to keep. How much does it cost? A professional demand letter through PettyLawsuit is $29, and small claims filing fees (if you ever need them) typically run $30 to $200 and are often recoverable if you win. When you're ready, PettyLawsuit turns this into action: a professional demand letter sent by certified mail for $29, and — if it comes to that — the correct small claims forms for your state with step-by-step filing help. Most disputes settle once a formal demand letter arrives, so you may never see a courtroom.