Verbal harrassment & Phone Harrassment

Just wondering if there is anything that my family can do about this issue...

My parents have some neighbors that have been a bit of a problem recently. A few months ago, my younger sister came home one evening and these folks started verbally harassing her as she walked from her car into my parents home. I don't know exactly what was said (I'll need to talk to her again), but it made her uncomfortable enough that she ended up calling a friend (and myself that evening) and going to that person's house until my parents came home the next day.

Today my father was outside and they proceeded to verbally harass him to the point that he moved his yard work to the back yard to avoid them. (the neighbors house is across the street) While my father was in the back, they proceeded to call my parents house TWICE and bothered my mother enough that she was in tears.

Now I'm worried because my parents are older and have some health issues and I don't want anything to happen to them or their property. I told them to call the police, but so far they haven't as they don't want to "upset" the neighborhood.

The catch is that my family doesn't even know these folks-they've never had interaction with them short of all of this, so I don't even know why they would bother my parents or sister.

My parents live in Indiana, does anyone know if there are any laws that pertain to this type of harassment? I may just be an overprotective child, but I just want to be sure my family is safe and frankly, I didn't enjoy hearing my mother cry in fear tonight because of the most recent issue.

Any advice is appreciated!
Thank you.

My parents also live in Indiana and they have the neighbors from you know where, My parents have lived in their home over 20yds and the previous owners of the property next door were fine with my parents and their driveway. Now the current owners have discovered that my parents driveway is on their property and have sent legal documents etc as well as the man of the house has left harrassing phone messages. My parents being elderly have hired an attorney to figure this mess out and thought everything was resolved. However the next door neighbor just happens to be an attorney and has said something to the fact he has plenty of money to fight this thing. My parents have offered to buy the property (all 2 and 1/2 feet, yes 30") but the neighbor insists that they move the driveway. I am extremely concerned about my elderly parents and the stress that this is putting on them. They both have health issues and it is more upsetting than any amount of financial strain. For 20yrs they have maintained the 30" of encroachment and basically been friendly non-nosey neighbors. They were told that it would take a huge amount of money to fight this in court so now are faced with moving their driveway the whole 30", which I think is outrageous that anyone would be so ridiculous. They live in rural Indiana also, is there any words of wisdom or other resolution out there

[jjones8601]

I'll start with the second poster first.

You wrote that your parents have been maintaining the 30" of infringing driveway for 20 years. Did they have the driveway poured or did it exist when they bought the property? When they bought the property did they purchase a survey? Does their county require permits (20 years ago) for improvements such as driveways, fences and decks?

The reason I ask these questions is that many if not most counties require permits so the survey markers can be located and ensure that property infringement will not happen. A permit also ensures improvements are built to code and are safe to use.

If the neighbor chooses not to have the extra concrete driveway they do not have to. If the driveway is 20' long, that is 600sq ft (7,200") of property. It was a mistake made by someone. Now, if this driveway was inherited via the purchase, it still should have been caught if a survey was ordered during the purchase. If a survey was not requested during the purchase, then that few hundred dollars in savings may become costly. If a survey was provided by the seller, which they signed a paper that stated it was true and accurate, they may be responsible because they lied, unless the previous owner also purchased the property with a transferred survey. Everyone take note here and NEVER skimp on a survey when buying a home. Also check the County Appraisal District for improvements listed for a property. They will reflect fence type if any, poured concrete areas and other things like a detached or attached garage. If the garage is attached and the CAD shows detached, someone, without permits, added the garage to the house.


Now for the original poster, here are a few things they should start doing.

Surveillance systems are becoming less and less expensive. A video recorder will also suffice. Someone needs to document the harassment and then they can take it to court, obtain restraining orders and or take them to small claims court.

As for two phone calls that is borderline. Indiana Recording Law | Citizen Media Law Project Indiana Wire Tapping Law is a one-party consent law. So, get a recorder for the phone and tape the calls from the neighbors. Two calls may not be harassment, the context of such call may be.