how long should it take your lawyer to write a cease and desist

by Miss Lizzie Rosenbaum Jr. 7 min read

Cease and Desist Letter
The offender is generally given a set time frame—usually 10 to 15 days—to cease and desist.

Full Answer

Do I need a lawyer to write a cease and desist?

However, if your cease and desist letter is coming from you and not your lawyer, then you look like an amateur. If your business isn't important enough to you to hire an attorney to draft a legitimate cease and desist letter on law firm letterhead, then how can you possibly expect the offending part to take you seriously either?

When is it time to write a cease and desist letter?

When approaching the situation in a mature and respectful manner does not always pan out as intended, it’s time to take the next step and write your cease and desist letter. But, what is it?

How do I respond to a cease and desist?

If your domain name or trademark is similar to another company's trademark, you can respond to the cease and desist by: Having your attorney write a response letter to try bargaining with the other trademark owner for continued use of the name

Can I file a civil suit without writing and sending a cease and desist?

Yes, you can file a civil suit without writing and sending a cease and desist. However, issuing the notice has benefits. First, it can begin negotiations to settle the matter without a court battle. Second, it puts the defendant on notice. It's more difficult to sue someone for doing something wrong,...

What is a cease and desist letter?

Cease and desist letters are a written warning sent to the party causing harm that notifies that if they do not stop the mentioned actions, further action and potential legal ramifications will be taken. These letters are not a legally binding order against another party.

What happens if you give a debt collector a cease and desist letter?

By providing the debt collector with a cease and desist letter, the harassing phone calls and abrupt visits to your home can be halted. Once a debt collector receives your letter, they can, legally, only contact you once more. This final contact can only be to explain that they are ceasing communication.

Why is it important to send a cease and desist letter?

It is useful to send a cease and desist letter, in these circumstances, to request the opposing party to stop falsified written and oral statements. It is important to include why the statements are false and a correction to the statements in the letter.

Can you send a cease and desist letter to another party?

Legally, any person can send a cease and desist letter to another party. This is partly due to the letter not being a legal order to stop the actions. Although, if you are foreseeing a lawsuit in the future, it is good practice to meet with an attorney for guidance.

Can a cease and desist letter be taken lightly?

Personal attacks should not be taken lightly. In certain circumstances, sending the offender a cease and desist letter can provoke them further. However, in a majority of situations, when receiving a cease and desist letter, the offender will understand that you are serious and mean business.

Can a cease and desist letter be used as a first measure of action?

In some instances, a cease and desist letter may not be an appropriate first measure of action.

What is a cease and desist letter?

Updated May 14, 2019. A cease and desist letter is a legal notice sent to someone you believe is infringing on copyrights you own the rights to. The letter is your way of stopping them.

Can civil claims be appealed?

Even if you get a verdict in your favor, the defendant may file an appeal and further extend the legal process.

Do you pay an attorney if she wins a verdict?

In that case, you only pay the attorney if she wins a verdict or obtains a settlement for you. An attorney can also advise you if your rights have, in reality, been violated and if so, if you have enough grounds for legal action. Also, an attorney can tell you if a cease and desist letter is the appropriate course of action, ...

What information should be included in a cease and desist letter?

If you are writing the letter yourself, you should include the following information: Your name and contact information. Name and contact information of the person or business being asked to stop the behavior.

Can you send a cease and desist letter yourself?

No specified method of delivery is required for a cease-and-desist letter. Because it is not a legal document, you can write and send the letter yourself without the help of a legal professional, or you can hire an attorney to write and serve the letter for you.

Can you write a cease and desist letter?

They are relatively simple to write up and you don't even need an attorney to serve them.

What is a cease and desist letter?

A cease and desist letter is a written notice requesting an individual or business engaging in unlawful, unwanted, or harmful conduct to stop and refrain from such behavior now and in the future. This letter is typically used to ask someone to immediately end their... read more.

What does "without a cease and desist letter" mean?

Without a cease and desist letter, the individual or business has not been put on notice to stop any behavior. Without having the individual or business on notice, the unlawful behavior will likely continue which could cause harm to you or your company depending on... read more.

Can you comply with a cease and desist letter?

People tend to avoid litigation at all costs and typically comply when they receive a cease and desist letter. However, sometimes they fail to comply. When someone fails to comply with a cease and desist letter, there are a few options still available to have your... read more. Contact Us.

Can a thoughtfully tailored letter open the path to resolution?

In many instances, a thoughtfully tailored letter can open the path to resolution. Competitors offer you form letters for download and distribution. However, these obvious nonspecific correspondence do not carry the same value and inherent power that a narrowly tailored correspondence sent from a lawyer offers you.

Why do lawyers send these letters?

The most common reason someone sends a cease and desist letter is simple efficiency: a letter is simpler and cheaper than a lawsuit.

So What Should I Do If I Receive a Cease and Desist Letter?

There is no “one size fits all” answer to this question. If it turns out that the letter was sent by a trademark owner who was just trying to create a paper trail to avoid abandonment or genericide, it might be fine in some cases to ignore the letter.

Why do we need a cease and desist letter?

For most people, they think that by sending out a cease and desist letter to every single person or business that threatens your business will automatically solve all your problems. Wrong…. Used appropriately, a cease and desist letter can be a great tool to help protect your intellectual property from would be thieves.

What happens if you don't follow through on your threats?

You better be prepared to do that. Because if you don't, you will quickly become known for not being able to follow-through on your threats. And before you know it, everyone will be taking advantage of you as a result. 5. Not having a clear reason for sending a Cease and Desist Letter.

Is a cease and desist letter going to shut down a competitor?

It is highly unlikely that a cease and desist letter, with nothing more, is going to shut down a competitor that may (or may not) be stealing your intellectual property.

What is a cease and desist letter?

A cease and desist letter is a letter you send to someone demanding they cease a certain behavior or activity that is harming you. A "cease and desist order" is an official order, handed down by a court, a judge or a governmental body. The two are very often confused.

Is a letter from an attorney a legal document?

A letter from an attorney is not a legal document in the sense that it can force a person to stop. The purpose of a letter from an attorney is to threaten legal action is the behavior or activity is not stopped - and therefore you would eventually pursue a cease and desist order and financial damages accordingly.

How long does it take to reply to a cease and desist letter?

A cease and desist letter may contain an arbitrary date for you to reply, such as within 7 days. While most letters tell you to stop your activities immediately, you can reply to the cease and desist letter in one of several ways.

What happens when you stop a cease and desist letter?

While it's not something you should ignore, a cease and desist letter can sometimes start a dialogue with the other party. It could eventually end up making the other party sorry they sent it.

What is a cease and desist letter?

A cease and desist letter is a letter, usually from an attorney, that advises you to stop certain activities, such as: Infringing upon a client's trademark or other intellectual property. Harassment. Breaching a contract. Slander or libel, known as defamation. Certain types of prohibited activities, such as plagiarizing content.

How to stop a trademark?

If your domain name or trademark is similar to another company's trademark, you can respond to the cease and desist by: 1 Having your attorney write a response letter to try bargaining with the other trademark owner for continued use of the name 2 Asking the other party for more information, including seeing their trademark to evaluate whether they have a legitimate claim 3 After consulting your attorney and finding that the other party is infringing on your rights, writing to the other party, asking them to cease and desist from using their name as it violates your mark 4 Ceasing business under your current name and transitioning to a different name, without conceding anything 5 Denying by letter that there's any similarity between the marks and stating that your mark is not causing confusion 6 Agreeing that the other side is correct and having your attorney send a letter stating that you'll comply with their request 7 Filing a declaratory judgment lawsuit before the other domain owner files one, asking the court to determine if you're infringing the trademark

What is a demand letter?

Any type of behavior that the other party believes is directly or indirectly affecting that party's rights. Cease and desist letters are also known as demand letters.

Can you ignore a DMCA notice?

Receiving a DMCA notice can be nerve-racking, but it is vital that you don't ignore it. Read more to understand why you received one and what you can do to resolve it.

Can a cease and desist letter be ignored?

By itself, a cease and desist letter can't do much, yet it may advise you that if you don't comply, the other party will sue you. In some cases, the party actually will sue you, while in other cases, they won't. Whatever you do, though, don't ignore the letter or you risk having the other party commence a lawsuit against you.

Maurice N Ross

To add to my colleagues' good advice, I'd add that the research and evaluation of your and the other party's respective claims is crucial because a C&D letter can give that user grounds to sue you creating a controversy that now has to be resoilved by the courts...

Pamela Koslyn

It depends on the complexity of the matter and who the "someone" is you want to warn. If you are simply warning an individual, expect to pay $100-$300 depending on how much time the attorney has to spend.

Bruce E. Burdick

The cost could vary greatly depending on the attorney/firm you hire to represent you and the specific facts of your case. The actual drafting of the letter is usually the quickest part of the process, and may take anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours to prepare (longer if there are complex issues at hand).

Christopher R Kinkade

It depends on the complexity of the matter and who the "someone" is you want to warn. If you are simply warning an individual, expect to pay $100-$300 depending on how much time the attorney has to spend.

Types and Elements of Cease-And-Desist Letters

How to Serve A Cease-And-Desist Letter

  • No specified method of delivery is required for a cease-and-desist letter. Because it is not a legal document, you can write and send the letter yourself without the help of a legal professional, or you can hire an attorney to write and serve the letter for you. How you deliver the letter depends on the situation being addressed. You can serve it v...
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A Cease-And-Desist Letter vs. A Cease-And-Desist Order

  • Many people use the terms cease-and-desist letter and cease-and-desist order interchangeably but one significant difference should not be overlooked. A cease-and-desist letter has no legal standing. It is merely a warning and a request to stop the offending behavior before legal action is taken. If the party continues the offending activity, the letter may help you get a cease-and-desis…
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