Write a character letter for court that a judge will actually read
Answer a few quick questions. We turn what you know about this person into a one-page letter, in the format judges and defense attorneys expect — no templates, no legal jargon.
About you — for the opening line and signature (optional, you can add it later)
What we did for you
Get your full letter
Full letter · Word + PDF · 3 rewrites · sending instructions
This letter + up to 4 more from family and friends · no two alike
How it works
Who you are to them, what the case is about, and one true moment you've seen. About 5 minutes. Mostly taps, not typing.
Your answers become a one-page letter in your own voice, addressed to the right judge or board.
Every letter is checked for the mistakes that hurt a case — claiming innocence, blaming others, asking for a sentence, private details — and fixed before you see it.
Read the opening for free. Unlock the full letter to download Word and PDF, print it, sign it, and give it to the attorney.
Why not just use a free template?
- Judges have read the same wording hundreds of times
- You guess what to include and what to leave out
- Nothing stops you from writing something that hurts the case
- Every family member's letter sounds the same
- Written from your answers, in your voice — no fill-in-the-blanks
- Separate rules for 10 case types, from DUI and federal sentencing to custody, immigration and parole
- Checked against 10 things that can hurt a case, and fixed automatically
- Family Pack letters are each written differently
Want to see the result first? Read our sample character letters for DUI, federal sentencing, family members, friends and employers.
Simple, one-time pricing
- The full letter, ready to print and sign
- Word + PDF download
- 3 tone rewrites (more formal, more personal, shorter)
- Step-by-step sending instructions
- Your letter, plus up to 4 more
- One link to share with relatives and friends
- Each letter written differently — no copy-paste
- Case details pre-filled for everyone
One-time payment · no subscription · no account · full refund within 7 days if it isn't useful
Private by design
Your letter lives at a private link only you have. We don't ask for a password or a phone number.
Letters are removed automatically after 30 days. Download a copy and you're done. We never sell your answers or use them for anything except writing your letter.
If you mention a child's name, an address or an ID number, we leave it out of the letter and tell you why.
How to write a character letter for court in 3 steps
Your name, what you do, how you know the person and for how long. Judges give weight to letters from people who really know the defendant.
One specific, true moment beats ten adjectives. "He drove my mother to chemo every week" says more than "he is kind".
Recognize that the case is serious, describe what they have done since, and respectfully ask the court to consider it.
What not to put in a character letter
- Don't say they are innocent or argue about the facts of the case.
- Don't blame the victim, the police, or anyone else.
- Don't ask for a specific sentence (for example "no jail time") unless the attorney asks you to.
- Don't use a fill-in-the-blank template — judges read hundreds of letters and recognize them.
- Keep it to one page, address the judge correctly, and leave out private details.
Based on published guidance from federal public defender offices, federal district courts and criminal defense attorneys. This site does not provide legal advice.
Frequently asked questions
Do judges actually read character letters?
Yes. At sentencing, judges consider the person’s history and character — for federal cases the law says so directly (18 U.S.C. § 3553(a)). Letters from people who really know the defendant are one of the few ways the court hears about them outside the case file.
How long should a character letter for court be?
One page — roughly 250 to 400 words. Judges read many letters; short, specific and sincere is more persuasive than long.
Who should I send the letter to?
Usually to the defense attorney, who files the letters together or gives them to the probation office. Some judges don’t accept letters sent to them directly, so ask the attorney first.
Can a family member write a character letter?
Yes — family letters are common. Focus on specific things you have seen, and on how the person supports the people who depend on them.
Will my letter be public?
It can be. In many courts sentencing letters become part of the court record. Leave out private details like addresses, dates of birth and children’s names.
How much does it cost?
Writing and previewing your letter is free. To download the full letter as Word and PDF costs $12.99, one time. The Family Pack is $29.99 and covers your letter plus up to 4 more from family and friends. No subscription, no account.
What if the letter isn’t right for me?
You can edit anything before you sign it, rewrite the tone up to 3 times, and if it still isn’t useful, email us within 7 days for a full refund.
Is the letter written by AI?
An AI model drafts the letter from your answers. Then our checks compare it against published guidance from federal defender offices and courts: correct salutation, one page, and none of the statements that can hurt a case. You read, edit and sign it yourself.
I don’t know the judge’s name. What do I do?
Leave it blank and we will address the letter correctly without it. If you want the name, the defense attorney or the online court docket will have it — see our guide on how to address a judge.
How does the Family Pack work?
After you unlock your letter, you get a private link to send to up to 4 relatives or friends. They answer the same short questions about what they have seen and get their own letter. We make sure no two letters read alike, because judges notice copy-paste letters.
What happens to my information?
Your answers are used only to write your letter. Letters are deleted automatically after 30 days, we never sell data, and you can ask us to delete yours sooner at [email protected].
Is this legal advice?
No. We help you put what you know into the format courts expect. Your attorney decides how letters are used in the case.
Ready to help someone you care about?
It takes about 5 minutes. The draft is free.
Write my character letterMore guides: letter to a judge · character witness letter · immigration letter · parole support letter · how to address a judge · for attorneys