My soon-to-be ex-husband keeps sending long, hateful, untruthful text messages and I am afraid to read them, when I see them.

You can try for a Civil Harassment Restraining Order. Legally, "harassment" means a pattern of repeated conduct that serves no legitimate purpose other than to harass or annoy the recipient. It might depend on what the texts say and how many you have gotten, but it could qualify. Judges up here will often grant restraining orders based on texts and other electronic communication, but I don't practice in San Diego. Definitely keep the text messages because they will likely become useful as evidence later on. There are software programs to back text messages up for iPhone and Android devices. I would strongly encourage you to get one of these programs. Otherwise, if you lose your phone, you lose all the texts. Andy

It would seem best to ignore them. If you take him to court to stop im, it will inflame things further. There are some resources for people who must deal with such folks as your soon-to-be ex-husband: They are called HCP--high conflict personalities. see links below. Good luck. (And be assured more conflict-- like a TRO--will not calm him down at all!)

Block the texts and get a local attorney to help you with the divorce--the sooner the better. Good luck!

Save the text messages, and follow attorney Straus' advice.