Below you can build a free demand letter yourself. Before you send anything, find out whether your claim is worth sending at all: tell my AI Legal Analyst what happened, and it maps your claim, your deadlines, and your leverage, reviewed against how I actually run these disputes.
Sergei Tokmakov, California attorney, CA Bar #279869, licensed since 2011.
LLC and corporate inspection rights under California and Delaware law.
Minority shareholders and LLC members have statutory rights to inspect company books and records. A well-drafted demand letter is often the first step before filing a formal petition--and frequently resolves the issue without court involvement.
Shareholders may inspect and copy accounting books, records, minutes of shareholder meetings, and the shareholder ledger. The request must be for a purpose reasonably related to the shareholder's interest.
Directors have absolute, unconditional rights to inspect the entire accounting books and records of the corporation.
Members may inspect and copy the LLC's records, tax returns, and financial statements during regular business hours for purposes reasonably related to the member's interest.
Requires written demand under oath stating a proper purpose. Inspection is limited to books and records essential to that purpose.
| Purpose | Why It Works |
|---|---|
| Investigate mismanagement/self-dealing | Courts routinely recognize this as proper; show specific concerns. |
| Value your ownership interest | Needed for buy-sell decisions, estate planning, or exit discussions. |
| Communicate with other owners | Shareholder lists can be inspected to solicit proxies or rally support. |
| Prepare for derivative litigation | Books and records provide facts needed for a well-pled complaint. |
Proof of ownership (subscription agreements, stock certificates)
Operating or shareholder agreements outlining inspection rights
Prior requests or emails showing denial of access
Financial statements or tax returns previously provided (establish baseline)
Evidence of suspected misconduct (related-party contracts, unusual expenses)
Timeline of events leading to the demand
I draft books and records demand letters and handle inspection disputes for minority shareholders and LLC members throughout California.
Email: owner@terms.law
Books and records inspection disputes can often be resolved with a well-crafted demand letter, but some situations require professional legal representation to protect your shareholder rights.
Use our free assessment tool to evaluate your books and records situation and get a personalized recommendation based on your ownership stake, the company's response, and your goals.
Generate a professional demand letter, CA court complaint, or arbitration demand
You now have a letter I have never read. A form builder cannot know whether your contract or your course of dealing controls, whether the right entity is on the letter, or what number belongs in the demand. If real money is at stake, the attorney demand engagement starts at $2,500. After a conflict check, I screen the claim, draft the demand on my letterhead, prepare the supporting chronology and damages figure, send it by certified mail and email, and review the first substantive response. Price is based on scope, not the dollar amount of the claim. Multi-party, unusually complex, or accelerated matters are quoted above the $2,500 minimum after review.
I accept demand matters only after a conflict check and written engagement; the minimum scope covers one attorney-drafted demand on my letterhead, supporting chronology and damages figure, certified-mail and email delivery, and review of the first substantive response.
Request this packageNot sure yet? Send your question, a short factual summary, and the key documents; you get a written attorney response identifying the main legal issues, risks, leverage points, and practical next steps. Not a full redline, demand letter, memo, or filing unless separately agreed.
Request the consultationFees are minimums or starting fees, subject to conflict, jurisdiction, merits, and written scope review. Multi-round negotiation is the separately scoped Pre-Litigation Negotiation Phase, starting at $3,000, and is not included in the demand engagement. Filing assistance or litigation representation requires a separate written scope; court appearances are not included in this service.
Informational only, not legal advice; no attorney-client relationship until a conflict check and written scope confirmation. Generated letters are unreviewed starting drafts. Sergei Tokmakov, licensed in California, CA Bar #279869 · owner@terms.law