Jump to Section
Need help with a Cease and Desist?
Post Your Project (It's Free)
Get Bids to Compare
Hire Your Lawyer
What Is a Cease-and-Desist Order?
A cease-and-desist order is a temporary injunction by an administrative agency that requires a specific party to stop certain specified practices. Cease-and-desist orders are used in many areas of the law. Usually, an administrative judge has the discretion to issue this type of order.
There are two different kinds of cease-and-desist orders:
- Summary cease and desist: This is an order issued before a hearing or without any type of judicial proceedings.
- Final cease and desist: This is when the order becomes final. The person who the cease-and-desist order has been placed against must request a hearing within a certain amount of time after the temporary injunction is in place or the order becomes final.
What Is a Cease-and-Desist Letter?
A cease-and-desist letter is a formally written document that communicates to an individual or organization the request to stop a specific action and to also refrain from taking that action in the future. The letter also includes specific demands, such as the action that you want the individual to take and by what date. If the recipient fails to comply with the request in the letter by the specified date, it usually carries a threat of legal repercussions.
Reasons Why You May Want to Send a Cease-and-Desist Letter
There are a number of common scenarios in which someone might want to send a cease-and-desist letter. These include:
- Harassment: You could send a letter demanding that someone stop harassing behaviors. The letter should include specific dates that the harassment occurred, a detailed description of the harassing behavior, and the date at which you will take further legal action if the behavior doesn't stop.
- Trademark infringement: A copyright automatically applies to any work that is written. However, a trademark must be registered in order for it to be legally enforceable. When sending a cease-and-desist letter over trademark infringement, you should include a description of the design that's been infringed upon, the date that you saw the image was used, and the actions that the recipient should take to comply with the letter.
- Copyright infringement: If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without permission, sending a cease-and-desist letter is the first step you should take to protect yourself. Your letter should include details about the work that was copyrighted, proof that you own the content, and an explanation of how the copyright was infringed upon.
- Debt collections: If you're receiving harassing phone calls from debt collectors, you may want to send a cease-and-desist letter to stop the harassment. Your letter should contain the amount of debt that collectors are pursuing, the account number associated with the debt, and any other documentation to stop the harassment.
2 projects on CC
What to Include in a Cease-and-Desist Letter
Here is a look at the type of information you should include in a cease-and-desist letter based upon the kind of letter you're sending:
Harassment
If you're sending a cease-and-desist letter to a debt collection agency that won't stop you, it should include language from the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, which prohibits the collection agency from contacting you by phone. If you're sending a cease-and-desist letter to an individual who's stalking or harassing you, then your letter should tell them that their behavior is uncomfortable, offensive, and threatening. Both types of letters should include the following:
- Unlawful behavior: A description of the type of behavior that the individual or company is engaging in that's unlawful.
- Dates: Specific dates when the harassing behavior took place.
- Location: Where the harassment occurred, or if it took place over the phone.
Trademark Infringement
It's important to always register your trademark with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), or your cease-and-desist letter may be powerless to stop the other business or party from using it. If your trademark is registered, then your rights are documented. Your letter should include:
- Dates used: Specify the date when the other party first used your trademark.
- Registration number: When you registered your trademark with the USPTO, your trademark was given a registration number that you should include with the letter.
- Registration date: Include the date you registered your trademark.
- Geographic areas: If applicable, include the geographic location where the trademark was used.
Copyright Infringement
If someone is using your work without permission, you can send a cease-and-desist letter demanding they take the content down or stop using it without proper attribution. Unlike trademarks, copyright applies as soon as your idea is written down. Your letter should include:
- The name or description of the work and/or a description of its similarities to what the other party is using
- The date at which the content was first published
- The registration number if you have registered it with the U.S. Copyright Office
- The length of time they have to stop using the content and meet other specified demands
Defamation
If someone is making false statements, whether they are spoken or published in writing, that have harmed your reputation, character, or business, you can send them a cease-and-desist letter demanding that they stop making those claims. There are two different types of defamation that the law recognizes:
- Libel: False statements that are written.
- Slander: False statements that are spoken.
If you're sending a cease-and-desist letter for defamation, your letter should include:
- The statement that was made by the other party.
- Whether the statement was spoken or published.
- A description of how the statement was misleading.
- A description of the harm you suffered as a result of the defamatory statement.
- Your demands, including the number of days that the other party has to take action and the specific action you want them to take, such as publishing a retraction of their statement or removing all of the content from a website.
Cease-and-Desist Letter Templates
Here are some templates you can use to create your own cease-and-desist letter:
Benefits of Having a Lawyer Send a Cease and Desist
While you can send a cease-and-desist letter on your own using one of the templates above, civil claims can be complex. Even if the verdict is in your favor, the other party could appeal the decision, drawing out the legal process even further. However, if you work with a lawyer and have them send the cease-and-desist letter on your behalf, they can:
- Explain whether your rights have, indeed, been violated, and what options you have for taking legal action.
- Tell you whether a cease-and-desist letter is the most effective and appropriate course of action.
- Write and send the letter on your behalf, making sure everything is properly documented.
In many cases, simply having a lawyer send the letter can cause the other party to take you more seriously. This, alone, could result in a more swift response and an end to the unlawful behavior. If you need help sending a cease-and-desist letter, the team at Contracts Counsel can help. We have a large team of fully vetted lawyers who work in over 30 different industries who can help you craft an effective cease-and-desist letter. Contact us today to get started.
Meet some of our Cease and Desist Lawyers
Dillon N.
ContractsCounsel verified
Associate Attorney
6 years practicing
Free Consultation
I joined Enterprise Law Group, LLP as an Associate in March 2020. My practice has involved a wide range of legal matters from commercial real estate, finance and international business transactions to litigation matters including commercial disputes, personal injury and medical malpractice. Proficient in Spanish, I graduated from the University of Kentucky College of Law, the Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce, and the University of Southern California. Prior to my legal career, I sought diverse professional experiences. After graduating from college, I orchestrated my own volunteering experience in southern Peru with a small non-profit organization. Later I gained valuable professional experience as part of a U.S. Senate campaign, and after that I joined the public policy team at Greater Louisville, Inc., Louisville's Chamber of Commerce affiliate. Prior to law school, I embarked on a month long excursion with the Northern Outdoor Leadership School in Alaska, which gave me a new found appreciation for sustainability.
Agnes M.
ContractsCounsel verified
Managing Attorney
11 years practicing
Free Consultation
Agnes Mombrun Geter is the Founder and Managing Attorney of Mombrun Law, PLLC. She is an experienced attorney and is a member of the Florida Bar, New Jersey Bar, and the Pennsylvania Bar. The firm's practice focuses on Estate Planning, Business Law, and Debt Settlement including IRS Debt Relief. The firm's goal is to simplify the law and provide clients with the confidence and information necessary to make their decisions. The firm also provides project-based legal services to other attorneys and law firms, along with assisting as personal counsel and local counsel on legal matters.
Richard P.
ContractsCounsel verified
Solo Practioner
40 years practicing
Free Consultation
Have over 40+ years of corporate and commercial law experience.
JULIAN H.
ContractsCounsel verified
Business Attorney
19 years practicing
Free Consultation
I am a business attorney with years of experience advising individual entrepreneurs and small businesses on issues ranging from entity selection/formation to employment law compliance, to intellectual property protection and exploitation. I often act as General Counsel for my clients fulfilling the legal function as part of a team of managers. I look forward to learning more about your business and how I may be of assistance.
Christopher R.
ContractsCounsel verified
Attorney
7 years practicing
Free Consultation
Corporate and transactional attorney in sixth year of practice. Focus areas include general corporate counsel, labor and employment law, business partnership matters, securities matters related to privately-held companies, and regulatory compliance in securities and finance matters.
Forest H.
ContractsCounsel verified
Attorney
23 years practicing
Free Consultation
Forest is a general practice lawyer. He provides legal advice regarding small business law, contracts, estates and trusts, administrative law, corporate governance and compliance. Forest practiced complex commercial litigation in Florida for eight years, representing clients such as Host Marriott, Kellogg School of Business, and Toyota. Since moving to Nashville in 2005, he has provided legal advice to clients forming new businesses, planning for the future, and seeking funding through the use of equity and/or debt in their businesses. This advice has included the selection of business type, assistance in drafting and editing their business plans and offering material, reviewing proposed term sheets, and conducting due diligence. Forest is a member of the Florida, Tennessee, and Texas Bars; in addition. Forest has held a Series 7, General Securities Representative Exam, Series 24, General Securities Principal, and Series 63, Uniform Securities Agent State Law.
Anjali S.
ContractsCounsel verified
Counsel
10 years practicing
Free Consultation
CA, NY, and FL licensed attorney with nearly a decade of experience in intellectual property, data privacy, commercial contracts, and employment. I also have both the CIPP/US and CIPP/E privacy credentials. Basically, everything your business needs!
Find the best lawyer for your project
Browse Lawyers NowCease and Desist lawyers by city
related contracts
other helpful articles
"ContractsCounsel puts on-demand legal services in the cloud. Not only is their service more convenient and time-efficient than visiting brick and mortar offices, but it’s more affordable too—and I’ve been universally impressed by the quality of talent provided. If you’re looking for a modern way for your small business to meet legal needs, I can’t recommend them enough!"
"This was an easy way to find an attorney to help me with a contract quickly. It was easy to work with Contracts Counsel to submit a bid and compare the lawyers on their experience and cost. I ended up finding someone who was a great fit for what I needed."
"ContractsCounsel suited my needs perfectly, and I really appreciate the work to get me a price that worked with my budget and the scope of work."
"I would recommend Contracts Counsel if you require legal work."
"ContractsCounsel helped me find a sensational lawyer who curated a contract fitting my needs quickly and efficiently. I really appreciated the ease of the system and the immediate responses from multiple lawyers!"
-p-60.f6a3b047f4d6.jpeg){kind=avatar}
"ContractsCounsel came through in a big way for my start up. Their platform put me in touch with the right lawyers for my industry and the team was as responsive as humanly possible during the whole process. I'll be back for more contract work in the future, as the lawyers they've vetted for these services are top tier."
-p-60.4f0f42e7f6e3.jpg){kind=avatar}