Walk It Through: The Ex Who Won't Stop
Messages every day, a car outside the house, a threat to post photos, and a personal safety order.
Months after a short relationship ended, an ex sends messages every day and parks outside the house at night.
Two things a person in this spot might do. Picking one shows what the law says about it.
One former partner. Stalking online across state lines, a civil suit for the distress, a second conviction and the federal law on images are not worked through here.
A practice walkthrough, not a prediction of how any real one will go. Legal information, not legal advice.
Words this turns on
Terms with a legal meaning that is narrower than the everyday one. Each links to the definition and the authority behind it.
- Domestic violenceBetween family or household members, causing or attempting physical harm, placing someone in reasonable fear of it, creating fear through harassment, stalking or threats, sexual assault, or holding someone against their will.
- Magistrate courtThe county court that hears civil actions up to $20,000, apart from interest and costs, and evictions where title is not in dispute.
- Personal safety orderA magistrate court order protecting someone outside the domestic violence article from a sexual offense, stalking or repeated credible threats, lasting for the period stated and not more than two years.
- Vulnerable adultA person over the age of 18 who, because of a physical or mental condition, cannot independently carry on the daily activities needed for life, health and protection.
- Course of conductA pattern of two or more acts directed at a person, directly, indirectly or through a third party, the core of stalking and harassment.
- Fabricated intimate imageAn image of an identifiable person created by artificial intelligence or other technology showing computer-generated intimate parts as theirs, covered by the same rule as a real one.