Family Harassed By Mil

Location: New Jersey

My family has been dealing with harassing letters and packets from my estranged MIL. How should I deal with it? We filed a police report and had a lawyer write a Cease and Desist.

Nov 2020 - MIL got into a text dispute with my mother. MIL sent messages to my Mother that were designed to emotionally harm not only mother but my wife. This was the last straw in a lifetime of emotional abuse.

Mar 2021 - Wife informed MIL that she decided to go no contact with my MIL. I support her 100%. Whole family blocked her on all social media.

Oct 2023 - Mother received a 120 page packet of strange material: photocopied memes, photos of herself in a bikini and a long typed letter with threat referencing our estrangement and “watch what I do”

Oct 2023 - My Mother filed police report at New Milford Police Station. She was frightened because she had no contact with MIL for 3 years and had received earlier referenced packet. Despite the threat “watch what I do” the police determined that it did not fit the description of harassment.

Nov 2023 - MIL sent multiple blank Christmas Cards to my mother with return address of our family members (seemingly to disguise her address, and also to remind us that she knows where everyone lives).

Nov 2023- We had a lawyer write a formal cease and desist letter ordering her not to contact any member of our family. This letter named each member of our family.

Nov 2023 - MIL sent package in the mail with a copy of a DVD that she had referenced in her long letter. There was a new letter also this one seemingly acknowledged the cease and desist.

March 2025 - My wife received a packet addressed to her. There was a 4 page typed letter and a copy of our cease and desist. Plus 100+ page packet of memes and photos of herself in a bikini. This time there was no postmark. Meaning it was dropped in our mailbox.

July 2025 - My mother received notification from the USPS that there was a package to be delivered. My mother was not expecting a package so she called the USPS and the package was from MIL. Mother refused delivery.

Nov 2025 - My Mother received another packet. This time it was dropped off in her apartment complex lobby by a man driving a silver Mazda he dressed in all black with a black hat. The packet was clear and had photos of my mother and disparaging text that was visible to all residents of the building as that passed through the lobby. A resident placed the package on her doorstep. It was the mostly the same 120+ pages of photocopied memes, bikini pictures and xeroxed notes that the kids sent her.

What should I do? I would like to get a restraining order. I don’t know if she is dangerous or not. But it’s scaring my mother and the rest of my family.