A letter and a court order solve different problems. Send a letter to someone dangerous and you may make things worse. Go to court over a rude neighbor and you will wait months for nothing. Four questions point you to the right tool in New York.
If you are in immediate danger, call 911. This check is general information, not legal advice, and using it creates no attorney-client relationship. Attorney Advertising.
| Situation | Right first tool |
|---|---|
| False statements of fact about you, by someone you can name | Cease and desist letter |
| Unwanted calls, texts, or visits after you asked them to stop, no threats | Cease and desist letter |
| Threats, stalking, violence, or fear for your safety | Order of protection |
| Anonymous poster or account | Platform report, then counsel |
| Copied trademark, logo, or content | Platform takedown first |
A cease and desist letter is a private written demand. It binds no one, but from the day it arrives the other side cannot claim ignorance, and continuing becomes a choice a court weighs later. For a known person who is not dangerous, it is the fastest and cheapest step, and it often ends the problem. The letter vs. order guide covers the details.
An order of protection is a court order. Against a family or household member, including a current or former partner, Family Court can issue a temporary one on your petition, often the day you file. Against anyone else, it comes through criminal court after a police report. Violating it can mean arrest. No letter does that.
Neither fits an anonymous account, where a letter has nowhere to go and unmasking the poster takes a lawsuit and a subpoena. Nor does it fit a copied trademark, where the platforms' own takedown tools are free and usually faster.
A New York attorney drafts and signs your defamation or harassment cease and desist, screened first and sent by USPS Certified Mail and email within 48 hours. $499 flat.
See both letters →Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Prepared by Hochman Law PC, October 2026. More free NY tools →