Of everything involved in filing a claim, writing out what actually happened is the part that stops people the longest — not because it's technically difficult, but because it feels like it needs to sound "legal." It doesn't.
The blank page problem
Faced with an empty text box asking for the details of your claim, it's natural to freeze, second-guess your wording, or try to write something that sounds like it came from a lawyer. None of that is actually what the form needs from you.
What "particulars" actually means
"Particulars" is simply the specific facts of what happened — who did what, when, and what it cost you. It isn't a persuasive essay or a legal argument; it's a factual account, written clearly enough that someone with no prior knowledge of your situation can follow exactly what occurred.
The four things it needs to show
- What agreement or relationship existed between you and the defendant.
- What the defendant did — or failed to do — that breached it.
- What loss that breach caused you.
- How much you're claiming, and how you arrived at that figure.
See do I have a claim? for the fuller explanation of these same building blocks.
Write it like a timeline, not an argument
The clearest particulars read like a simple timeline: on this date, this happened; then this; then this. Resist the urge to argue your case persuasively within the claim itself — state what happened plainly, in order, and let the facts do the work.
Facts, not feelings
It's tempting to describe how frustrating or unfair a situation felt, but a court is looking for facts it can verify, not a description of your emotional experience. Keep frustration out of the writing itself — specific dates, amounts, and actions carry far more weight than adjectives.
A short example
Weak vs. strong particulars
Weak: "The contractor did a terrible job and ruined my basement and won't answer me
anymore, which is completely unacceptable."
Strong: "On March 3, 2026, the defendant was paid $4,200 to waterproof my basement. On
April 15, 2026, the basement flooded during rainfall. On April 16, 2026, a
second contractor inspected the work and found it was not completed to industry standard,
providing a quote of $3,100 to redo it. The defendant has not responded to messages sent
on April 17 and April 24, 2026."
Common mistakes
- Writing persuasively instead of factually, arguing your case rather than stating what happened.
- Leaving out dates, making the timeline hard to follow or verify.
- Not connecting the loss to a specific dollar amount clearly.
- Trying to sound "legal" instead of simply being clear.
Where to go for the full how-to
This piece is about the writing itself. For the complete process of preparing and filing the form it belongs to, see preparing and filing your claim.
Frequently asked questions
Does my claim need to sound like it was written by a lawyer?
No — clear, factual, plain language is exactly what a claim needs. Legal-sounding language doesn't make a claim stronger.
How long should the particulars be?
As long as it takes to clearly state the facts, and no longer — a shorter, specific account is generally stronger than a long, rambling one.
Can I edit my claim after I've filed it?
Amending a filed claim can involve extra steps — see preparing and filing your claim and aim to get it right the first time where possible.
Related guides
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Preparing and filing your claim
The complete process this writing fits into.
-
Do I have a claim?
The same building blocks, explained in full.
-
Claim preparation checklist
Get your facts and documents organized before you write.
-
The Demand Letter Step Most People Skip — And Why It Matters
The step that often comes before you ever write a claim.
-
How to Find Someone's Address to Serve Court Papers
What you'll need once your claim is written and ready to file.