Cease and desist letter
By Justin Winter · Updated August 20, 2026
You can send a cease and desist letter online in about two minutes: we typeset your letter, print it, and mail it USPS Certified with electronic Return Receipt for $14.99 all-in — so you have signed proof the other party received your demand before you escalate further.
A cease and desist letter is a formal demand that someone stop specific conduct — using your trademark, harassing you, infringing your copyright, violating a non-compete. It is not a lawsuit. It is the step before one: a documented, dated warning that puts the other side on notice.
What actually makes it work
Not legal formatting — specificity and proof. Name the exact conduct, with dates. Name the right it violates. Set a real deadline. Then send it a way that proves they got it, because the letter's entire value is being able to say later: "you knew, and you kept going."
When to use certified mail
- Trademark or copyright infringement — you may need the delivery date if this becomes a filing.
- Harassment or a former employee violating a non-compete — a documented warning matters if it escalates.
- Any dispute where the next step, if ignored, is a formal complaint or lawsuit.
How it works
- Open the template, fill in the specific conduct, dates, and the right it violates.
- Pay $14.99 (Certified + Return Receipt) — the letter prints the next business day.
- You get the tracking number and the signed delivery record once it arrives.
We screen content for threats, fraud, and impersonation only — a lawful demand with firm language is fine. This template is a tool, not legal advice; for trademark or copyright matters with real stakes, an attorney-drafted letter carries more weight.
Common questions
What makes a cease and desist letter valid?
There is no special legal format required — what makes it effective is specificity (the exact conduct, dates, and the right you say it violates) and a real deadline. It works as a paper trail: if the conduct continues after a provably delivered letter, that record helps in court or with a platform.
Is a cease and desist letter legally binding?
No — it does not create a legal obligation by itself. It puts the recipient on formal notice, which matters later: courts and platforms often ask whether you demanded the conduct stop before you took further action.
Will paperplane refuse to mail an aggressive cease and desist letter?
Lawful demands and firm legal language are explicitly allowed, including stating you will pursue legal action. What gets refused is threats of violence, harassment, and impersonation — a factual demand letter is fine.
Is this legal advice?
No — it is a template, not legal advice. For trademark, copyright, or harassment matters with real stakes, an attorney-drafted letter (sometimes on firm letterhead) carries more weight; this template is for straightforward, lower-stakes demands.