Keep it to four sentences
- You are resigning from your position.
- Your final working day is [exact date] — a date, not "in two weeks."
- You'll assist with the transition.
- Thank you. (Optional, recommended, costs nothing.)
Picking the date
Two weeks is convention, not law, in at-will employment — but check your offer letter and handbook for a required notice period, and check whether PTO payout is conditioned on giving it. If nothing requires more, fourteen days from delivery is the professional default.
Protect the money on the way out
States set deadlines for final paychecks, and several require accrued-PTO payout. A single sentence requesting written confirmation of your final pay and PTO treatment "under applicable state wage payment law" puts the question on the record without turning your resignation into a dispute.
What never goes in
Grievances, criticism, explanations, ultimatums. The letter outlives the feelings — write the version you'd be comfortable seeing in your personnel file in five years.
A clean resignation, dated and done
Professional, exact final day, transition offered, final-pay confirmation requested.
Create My Notice — $9Common questions
Is two weeks' notice legally required?
In most U.S. jobs, no — employment is at-will and two weeks is a professional convention, not a statute. But your offer letter, contract, or handbook can require notice, and unused-PTO payout sometimes depends on giving it. Check those documents before you pick your date.
What should a resignation letter include?
Three things, briefly: that you're resigning, your final working day stated as an exact date, and an offer to help with transition. Optionally, thanks. That's all — grievances, reasons, and negotiations don't belong in this document.
What about my final paycheck and PTO?
States set deadlines for final pay, and some require accrued-PTO payout. You can request written confirmation of the amount and timing under 'applicable state wage payment law' without citing section numbers — the request itself is what matters.
WriteMyNotice.com is a self-help document preparation service, not a law firm, and this page is general information, not legal advice. Statutes change and leases can require more notice than state law — always check your lease and, for significant matters, consult a licensed attorney in your state. Statute references verified June 2026.
Leaving for a different reason? See all resignation letters — including immediate, retirement, a new job, and personal reasons.