A cease and desist harassment letter is a legal document that is typically used to demand that an individual or entity stops engaging in harassing behavior.
If you’re suffering from harassment, sending this letter is one way to protect yourself from your violator. Below, we provide a strongly worded template to help you make an effective demand.
The letter warns your harasser to end their repeated, unwanted behavior because it’s uncomfortable, threatening, or offensive.
Common Uses of a Cease and Desist Harassment Letter
Personal Harassment
A cease and desist letter can be sent to the person who is harassing you to demand that they immediately stop their behavior, which may include unwanted communications, stalking, or threats.
Workplace Harassment
A cease and desist letter can be sent to the harasser, typically an employer or coworker, requesting that the behavior cease immediately if you are experiencing bullying, discrimination, or sexual harassment at work.
Online Harassment
Cyberbullying, online stalking, and harassment have become prevalent issues as a result of the rise of online communication. You can use a cease and desist letter to demand that the owner of a website or another individual stop harassing you online.
Intellectual Property Infringement
A cease and desist letter can be sent to demand that someone immediately cease the unauthorized use of your copyrighted material, trademarks, or other intellectual property and potentially face legal consequences if they do not comply.
Debt Collection Harassment
A debt collection cease and desist letter can be sent to demand that debt collectors stop engaging in aggressive, abusive, or harassing tactics in order to collect a debt.
Is a Harassment Letter Legally Enforceable?
A Cease and Desist Harassment Letter isn’t legally enforceable. It merely serves as a warning to your violator that you’ll take legal action if the harassment doesn’t stop. The letter may stop your offender before legal action is necessary, saving you time, stress, and money.
However, by sending this letter, you can collect hard evidence that you formally asked someone to stop personally or sexually harassing you, which may aid later in court.
How to Write a Cease and Desist Letter for Harassment
When writing a Cease and Desist Harassment Letter, consider what you must include. To thoroughly document the problem, we provide simple blanks for you to fill in and provide details about:
- Dates: When the harassment took place
- Location: Where the harassment occurred
- Unlawful behavior: Details of the type of harassment
Sending a cease and desist letter may enrage your harasser or cause them to retaliate against you. Sometimes, it’s better to go to court and immediately get a restraining order.
How to Send a Cease and Desist Harassment Letter?
Once you’ve written your Cease and Desist Harassment Letter, you must send it to the offending party. You should send the letter certified return receipt via US mail.
This means the recipient will have to sign for it so you can be assured that they’ve received it and are forced to acknowledge the letter. Additionally, you should also email them the letter.
Sample Cease and Desist Harassment Letter
Here’s a sample of our Harassment Letter template:
From
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
Date: _____________________
VIA ☐ Certified Mail ☐ Overnight Mail ☐ Email ☐ Facsimile ☐ Other: __________________
To
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
RE: Cease and Desist – Harassment
Dear _______________________:
This letter serves as notice to you to immediately cease and desist all harassing activities against
and towards me, including but not limited to:
____________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________.
Your actions are unwanted, (Check all that apply) ☐ embarrassing ☐ annoying ☐ aggressive
☐ threatening ☐ other: _____________________, and have become unbearable to me. Your actions
also infringe upon my right to remain free from harassment. As a result of your harassment, I have
suffered: ____________________________________________________________________________.
If you do not cease and desist the harassment, I will be forced to take appropriate legal action
against you and will seek all available damages and remedies.
Sincerely,
Printed Name: ____________
If you need help filling one out, our document builder provides an easy and structured way.