Cease and Desist Letter for Harassment

A cease and desist letter for harassment is used to give a person or organization notice that they must stop harassing the sender or face legal action. The letter describes the harassment the sender has suffered and gives the recipient a time limit to reply in writing that they will stop. The letter should be sent with return receipt to prove delivery.

Cease and Desist Letter for Harassment

A cease and desist letter for harassment is used to give a person or organization notice that they must stop harassing the sender or face legal action. The letter describes the harassment the sender has suffered and gives the recipient a time limit to reply in writing that they will stop. The letter should be sent with return receipt to prove delivery.

Last updated February 3rd, 2025

A cease and desist letter for harassment is used to give a person or organization notice that they must stop harassing the sender or face legal action. The letter describes the harassment the sender has suffered and gives the recipient a time limit to reply in writing that they will stop. The letter should be sent with return receipt to prove delivery.

  1. Home »
  2. Cease and Desist Letter Template (9) »
  3. Harassment

Illegal Harassment

The line at which harassment crosses from unwanted to illegal behavior varies depending on the type of harassment and the jurisdiction. These factors will also determine whether the victim should file a harassment charge with the police or a lawsuit with the court if the perpetrator doesn’t stop.
Depending on the nature of the harassment, it may be necessary to consult a legal professional before issuing a cease and desist.

Verbal, Physical, and Sexual Harassment

In general, repeated and unwanted behavior that is unreasonably insulting, demeaning, or threatening to the victim may be considered illegal harassment. The form of the harassment can be spoken, written, or physical, and include unauthorized disclosures and offensive images.

Workplace Harassment

Under Federal Law, harassment in the workplace is unlawful when it discriminates against a protected trait and the worker either suffers a change in the terms of employment (e.g., getting fired) or the harassment creates a hostile work environment.[1]

Stalking

The definition of illegal stalking under federal law is when a perpetrator travels or uses mail or electronic communications with intent to harm, harass, intimidate, or surveil another person and[2]:

  • Causes that person reasonable fear of death or injury to themselves, a member of their household, or pet; OR
  • Causes substantial emotional distress

Cyber Harassment

Cyber harassment, which includes cyber-bullying and cyber-stalking, becomes illegal when it qualifies as unlawful harassment under state and federal law (described above). Some states have statutes specifically targeting online harassment.

Sample

Download: PDFWord (.docx)OpenDocument

NOTICE TO CEASE AND DESIST

[SENDER’S NAME]
[SENDER’S STREET]
[SENDER’S CITY, STATE, & ZIP]

Date: [MM/DD/YYYY]

Re: Harassment

Dear [RECIPIENT’S NAME],

This letter has been served as a notice of your unwarranted and ongoing harassment activities. I demand that you cease and desist all harassment activities, including but not limited to:

[LIST ACTS OF HARASSMENT].

If you do not cease all related acts a harassment lawsuit will be commenced against you.

The previously conducted actions are unwanted, unwelcome, and have become unbearable. Due to the aforementioned harm you have caused, this cease and desist shall serve as a pre-suit letter demanding that you provide us written assurance within [#] days that you will refrain from further actions that could be deemed as harassment.

If you do not comply with this cease and desist letter within the aforementioned time period, then a lawsuit may be filed in the proper jurisdiction seeking monetary damages as well as pursuing all available legal remedies for your harassment.

Sincerely,

________________________
[PRINTED NAME]