Straight answers about ESA letters, psychiatric service dog documentation, housing rights, and how our process works. If your question is not here, call us and a real person will answer it.
We connect you with licensed mental health professionals in your state who evaluate whether an emotional support animal or psychiatric service dog is an appropriate part of your care. When a clinician approves you, they issue a signed letter that satisfies Fair Housing Act documentation standards. We are not a registry and we do not sell certificates, because those products have no legal standing.
A healthy question to ask. The test of legitimacy is simple: is a licensed professional actually evaluating you, and can their license be verified? Every letter we facilitate carries the clinician's license type, number, and state, which any landlord can check with the licensing board in minutes. We also refuse to guarantee approval, because a real evaluation can end in a no. Sites that approve everyone instantly are the ones landlords reject.
The assessment takes about eight minutes. A clinician typically reviews it within one business day, and approved letters are delivered digitally within 24 hours of the evaluation. States that require a live telehealth conversation add a short scheduled call, usually available the same day or the next.
Yes. Your assessment is shared only with the clinician who evaluates you, and your letter discloses no diagnosis. Landlords receive confirmation of your disability related need, never your medical details, and we never sell or share your data.
If the clinician determines an assistance animal is not appropriate for you, you receive a full refund automatically. If a landlord raises a valid legal objection to a letter we facilitated, we work the issue with you until it is resolved or refund you in full.
No. The evaluation itself is where the clinician assesses your emotional health. Many approved clients have never seen a therapist before. What matters is that you genuinely experience a condition that your animal helps you manage.
Yes, when the clinician finds each animal plays a role in your support. Our multi pet letter covers every qualifying animal in your household in a single document for $129.
Letters are dated and considered current for one year. Most landlords expect documentation from the last twelve months, so we offer a $79 annual renewal with a short check in evaluation, usually completed the same day.
No. Pet deposits, pet rent, and pet fees cannot be applied to an assistance animal under HUD guidance. You remain responsible for any actual damage, exactly like any other tenant.
Breed and size limits in pet policies do not apply to assistance animals. A landlord can only exclude a specific animal with evidence that it poses a direct threat or would cause substantial damage, judged on that animal's actual behavior.
No. Since the Department of Transportation changed its rules, airlines are no longer required to carry emotional support animals in the cabin. Trained psychiatric service dogs still fly free, which is why many travelers pursue a PSD letter instead.
Trained tasks must relate directly to your disability: interrupting panic attacks, deep pressure therapy, medication reminders, waking from night terrors, grounding during dissociation, or guiding you out of overwhelming situations. Comfort alone, without trained tasks, describes an ESA rather than a PSD.
Yes. The ADA explicitly permits owner training. Your dog needs reliable task performance and solid public behavior, however you get there. Our team can point you toward reputable training programs and resources.
Yes, in nearly all public places. Staff may only ask whether the dog is required because of a disability and what tasks it is trained to perform. They may not demand documentation, though carrying your letter often ends conversations quickly.
Airlines require the Department of Transportation Service Animal Transportation form, which you complete yourself. Clinician documentation is not federally required for domestic flights, but airlines and international carriers frequently request supporting evidence, and our letter serves exactly that purpose.
You receive your assessment link right away. Complete it whenever suits you, and a clinician licensed in your state picks it up, usually within one business day. If your state requires a live consultation, you choose a time slot. Once approved, your letter arrives by email, with a printed copy available on request.
All 50 states plus Washington DC. Several states, including California, require additional steps such as an established clinician relationship before a letter is issued, and our process is built to satisfy those rules rather than work around them.
The letter includes the clinician's license type, number, and state, verifiable through the public licensing board. Where appropriate, the clinician can also confirm the letter's authenticity directly without disclosing anything about your health.
Of course. Call us at (888) 655-0372 or email support@esaletterus.org and a real person will answer your questions with no obligation. We would rather you start informed than start fast.
Call, email, or send us a message. Our support team answers within one business day, and usually much faster.