Q: Lots of resources for physical abuse, but what options do I have for psychological / legal abuse, slander & harassment?
Physical abuse victims have many resources, but what about those being harassed, slandered, stalked & tormented by a malicious sociopath? Sociopaths strategically execute their schemes covertly, staying “under the radar” which keeps them just inside the law so they avoid exposure & criminal charges. And with ample resources for lawyers, the court system is being used as a “weapon” by filing false allegations, lying & slandering in court documents, and dismantling my life piece-by-piece. This monster also possesses all my personal info (SS#, address history, employmt history, medical history, my family, finances, etc.). I have strong reason to believe she’s posing as me & obtaining personal records, but I have no way to concretely prove this. My life is a living hell & I lack resources to pay lawyers to deal with all the messes she keeps making. She won’t stop til I’m dead or homeless from legal fees. How would I go about changing my name & SS# & disappearing? Seems to be only option.
A:
Dear Questioner,
Thank you for your question.
Without knowing more specifics about your situation, I cannot give you direct legal guidance, but I would say that one option that may be available to you in Massachusetts is obtaining a Chapter 258A or Harassment Prevention order. These orders protect people who are being harassed, stalked, or sexually assaulted.
Typically, for conduct to qualify as harassment, it needs to have occurred on three or more occasions and:
1. Was wilful and malicious
2. Aimed at you
3. Intended to cause you fear, intimidation, abuse, or damage to property
4. Actually caused you fear, intimidation, abuse, or damage to property
To get a harassment prevention order, the first step is to go to a court or police station to get all the necessary paperwork, which includes a complaint and forms about the plaintiff and the defendant. Once those forms are filed, you will appear in court with your attorney before a judge. The judge will make a decision on whether or not to issue the order.
The next court date will typically be about 10-days later, but could be sooner. During this next hearing the judge will listen to the evidence and decide if the order should continue to be in effect, be amended in some way, or be ended. At this hearing both the plaintiff and the defendant get to make their case.
If the judge grants the order, it will go into effect for up to one year.
I hope this has helped.
Best,
Bill
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