Legal Question in Family Law in Massachusetts

Re: Harassment - Not Sexual

Your daughter is 19 years old and does not have to communicate with her father or his wife. Tell her she can block her stepmother's emails or just simply not open them. However, if the emails are threatening you would want to save them and print them out.

If your daughter is in fear she could file a restraining order pursuant to Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 209A.

However, what little you have told me does not seem to rise to the level required under the statute.

In any event, your daugther is no longer a minor and has the option to avoid communications with them.

Please see below a portion of the M.G.L. ch. 209A:

Chapter 209A: Section 1 Definitions

Section 1. As used in this chapter the following words shall have the following meanings:

""Abuse'', the occurrence of one or more of the following acts between family or household members:

(a) attempting to cause or causing physical harm;

(b) placing another in fear of imminent serious physical harm;

(c) causing another to engage involuntarily in sexual relations by force, threat or duress.

The whole statute does not fit here but you can find it online.

Good luck! Sincerely, Maria Murber