Video: Learn About Cease and Desist Letters

You can watch this video before you send a Cease and Desist Letter to get answers to these questions:

  • What is a Cease and Desist letter?
  • When should I send one?
  • Who can send one?
  • How detailed should I be?
  • What does a Cease and Desist letter do?
  • What are some common mistakes made when making a Cease and Desist letter?

Example Harassment Cease & Desist

Below is an example cease and desist letter for harassment. Click here for other types of cease and desist letter templates. As a general rule, a cease and desist template should not be used without first consulting with an experienced attorney.

Tips to Sending a Cease & Desist Letter

People using this template form should edit out the brackets [ ] and fill in the appropriate information that is applicable to themselves.

Also, anyone using this will want to be as detailed as possible when naming specific instances of unwanted behavior.

Read over this form carefully before sending it out in order to make sure that all of the information you have supplied is accurate.

When you send this letter to the perpetrator, allow 15 days for a response. This gives the perpetrator time to receive the letter (the mail can be slow sometimes), read it over, examine his/her own legal rights, and mail it back (allowing time for the letter to slowly move through the mail on the return trip).

Make sure that the perpetrator’s activities actually fall outside the scope of his/her legal rights. Remember, people sometimes do annoying or creepy things, but those things are not always illegal. If someone is acting in a way that is still bothersome to you but those activities do not necessarily fall within the definition of stalking or harassment, this may not be the appropriate remedy and you may need to pursue a different course of action.

Free Download of Cease and Desist Letter for Harassment

→ CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD harassment-cease-and-desist.doc

[Your name][Your address – line 1][Your address – line 2] [Perpetrator’s name][Perpetrator’s address – line 1][Perpetrator’s address – line 2] [Today’s date]

RE: Cease and desist from [stalking/harassing/etc.]

Dear [Perpetrator’s name]:

This CEASE AND DESIST ORDER is to inform you that your persistent actions including but not limited to [insert actions here (example: calling me in the middle of the night and hanging up, waiting outside my house, etc)] have become unbearable. You are ORDERED TO STOP such activities immediately as they are being done in violation of the law.

I have the right to remain free from these activities as they constitute [harassment/stalking/etc.], and I will pursue any legal remedies available to me against you if these activities continue. These remedies include but are not limited to: contacting law enforcement to obtain criminal sanctions against you, and suing you civilly for damages I have incurred as a result of your actions.

Again, you must IMMEDIATELY STOP [unwanted activities] and send me written confirmation that you will stop such activities. You risk incurring some very severe legal consequences if you fail to comply with this demand.

This letter acts as your final warning to discontinue this unwanted conduct before I pursue legal actions against you. At this time, I am not contacting the authorities or filing civil suit against you, as I hope we can resolve this matter without authoritative involvement. I am not under any circumstances, however, waiving any legal rights I have presently, or future legal remedies against you by sending you this letter. This order acts as ONE FINAL CHANCE for you to cease your illegal activities before I exercise my rights.

To ensure compliance with this letter, and to halt any legal action I may take against you, I require you to fill in and sign the attached form and mail it back to me within 10 days of your receipt of this letter. Failure to do so will act as evidence of your infringement upon my legal rights, and I will immediately seek legal avenues to remedy the situation.

Sincerely,

[your signature]___[your printed name]

CEASE AND DESIST COMPLIANCE AGREEMENT

I, [insert perpetrator’s name here] do hereby agree to stop [insert unwanted activities here] which are in violation of [your full name]’s rights. I understand that this is my final chance to cease these activities. I understand that [your full name] potentially has the right to pursue legal action against me relating to my engagement in these activities, but [he/she] will not pursue those rights in contemplation of my compliance with this written demand. I further understand that [your full name] has not waived [his/her] rights and may pursue legal remedies against me if I fail to abide by this agreement. I understand that this agreement is not specifically limited to the activities named herein. I will not engage in any activity now or in the future done for the purpose of [stalking/harassing] [your full name]. I furthermore agree not to engage in any activity, regardless of its official title, that is done in violation of [your full name]’s legal rights. If I fail to cease performing these activities, [your full name] may pursue legal action against me in accordance [his/her] legal rights. This agreement acts as a contract between [perpetrator’s name] and [your full name]. Forbearing enforcement of legally enforceable remedies is sufficient consideration to support this agreement. This agreement represents the entire agreement between the parties. Any statements made orally, written, or otherwise which are not contained herein shall have no impact on either parties’ rights or obligations elaborated in this agreement.

Date ____________________

________________________[perpetrator’s printed name]

________________________[perpetrator’s signature]