| name | payoff-letter-request |
| title | Payoff Letter Request |
| description | Drafts formal payoff letter requests to lenders for the precise amount needed to satisfy a loan obligation on a given date. Extracts loan details from matter documents, identifies missing information, and tailors urgency to transaction deadlines. Incorporates RESPA compliance, per diem interest, and itemized breakdown specifications. Use when requesting payoff statements, mortgage payoff letters, loan satisfaction amounts, or lien release calculations in closings, refinancing, or debt satisfaction scenarios. |
| author | CaseMark |
| author_url | https://github.com/CaseMark/skills/tree/main/skills/legal/payoff-letter-request |
| license | Apache-2.0 |
| version | 0.1.0 |
| execution_mode | open |
| jurisdiction | us |
| practice | real-estate |
| language | en |
| tags | ["drafting","letter","transactional"] |
Payoff Letter Request
Drafts a request to a lender for the amount required to fully satisfy a loan as of a specific date, for use in closings, refinancing, and debt satisfaction.
Prerequisites
Gather before drafting — pause and request any missing items:
- Loan documents — agreement, mortgage/deed of trust, promissory note, recent statements
- Loan identifiers — account number, original principal, origination date, current servicer
- Property address — full address including unit, city, state, ZIP (secured loans)
- Borrower identity — full legal name as on loan documents
- Requested payoff date — exact date payment will be tendered
- Transaction context — closing date, rate lock expiration, sale date, or other deadline
- Authorization — if not borrower: POA, agency agreement, or authorization letter; identify role
- Prepayment provisions — penalties, early termination fees, or specific payoff procedures
Process
1. Document Review and Gap Analysis
Search matter files for loan agreements, notes, statements, and lender correspondence. Extract:
| Data Point | Source |
|---|
| Loan account number | Statement or note |
| Original principal and date | Promissory note |
| Current approximate balance | Most recent statement |
| Servicer name and address | Statement or correspondence |
| Prepayment penalty provisions | Loan agreement |
| Required payoff procedures | Loan agreement or servicer website |
| Notice clause requirements | Loan agreement |
If critical fields are missing (account number, payoff date, property address, authorization), list gaps and explain why each is needed before proceeding.
2. Assess Urgency
| Context | Timeframe | Sample Language |
|---|
| Scheduled closing | 7-10 business days | "in connection with a scheduled closing on [DATE]" |
| Refinancing with rate lock | Expedited | "rate lock expires on [DATE]; prompt response essential" |
