Q: Mother in law won't stop unnecessary drama and borderline harassment.
I have a mother in law that either has a drug problem or some mental health issues or both. She always brings us up in drama that she has created and won't stop contacting us even though she's been told to stop until she can act right. This has been going on for years and can not act accordingly. It has gotten to the point where it has put stress on our marriage and psychological health. She also is very manipulative and holds stuff over our heads if she doesn't get her way like seeing my kid, or if our kid has other plans like a friend or another family member. What would be the best way to stop this after we have blocked them from social media and really don't want to hear from them if this behavior continues?
A:
Thank you for your question. A way to keep your mother in law from contacting you is to file an order of protection. Orders of protection are civil orders granted in cases involving abuse, stalking (harassment is included in stalking for the purposes of an order of protection) or assault. From your description, it sounds like your mother in law may be exhibiting stalking behavior in the form of harassment.
If you feel that your mother in law's behavior has risen to that level, you can file an temporary order of protection with the court. Then, you would have a hearing to extend the order of protection for up to one year. If you have additional questions, or if you need to discuss specifics of your mother in law's behavior, it is always best to contact an attorney to assist you.
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