Legal Question in Family Law in Washington

Re: Is this harassment? What can I do?

To start with my conclusion, no, this is not harassment. My explanation of why is as follows:

I do not know why the judge ordered your ex to communicate by e-mail in the first place, but if I were a betting man, I'd guess that it was to avoid him calling you at all hours and spewing all sorts of hatred through the phone. By using e-mail, the judge accomplishes two things: 1) You do not have to read the e-mails, and if they are sent at all hours of the day, you can at least read them at your convenience, thus avoiding the harassing part of phone calls (it rings, it bothers you, you have to listen to the voice on the other end or have your phone ring at all hours of the day). 2) It allows you to record all the love and affection that comes through your ex's e-mails. Those are always fun to print and submit as exhibits in court- using his own words against him or to contradict what he later tells a judge.

If I were you, I would not ask him to stop. Let him just spew whatever he has to spew. If only provides you with more information and with further evidence of his irrationality.

If you dislike reading the e-mails, well, that's what lawyers are for. I have clients in similar positions and they are so fed up, they just hit "forward" on whatever comes their way from the ex and I read it and decide how to respond or at least filter it and fill my client in on what they ex wants (outside of cussing or saying inappropriate things).

Bottom line, if this is just by e-mail, and he is not calling at all hours or showing up at home or work, then let him keep on e-mailing, and hire an attorney to put it all together when the time goes to go to court for whatever reason.

I know this may not be what you want to read here, but I hope it at least helps.