She's opened my mail, is this illegal?

Question

My faincee and I lived at my great grandmother's house. We moved out back in Febraury and she's still been getting mail at her house. I recently saw that she's been opening my mail. I confronted her and asked her why she was, and she said she thought it was for her, but it clearly wasn't. She even put the mail back in the envelope like it wasn't even touched. It was mail from my work and tax revenues. Is this illegal? and what steps can we take in law.

Answer 1

Tampering with the US Mail is a federal offense. Knowingly opening another person's mail is a crime. Contact your local post office and they can take it from there. Telling granny you did it might scare the begeebers out of her enought that she stops, but do follow thru especially if tax and payroll information is being tampered with. This could cause you problems at tax time if you are missing anything.

Answer 2

Damn right this is illegal, and just plain wrong also. First thing you should do is contact the Postal Service Investigations Dept. and have them look into it. They will more then likely take care of everything else you should do, like putting a change of address in and making sure it gets used DAILY, not just when the regular mailman is working. The investigators will prosecute iy you request it and force the issue. I mean it is your great grandmother.... how old is she like 95 or so? She could be suffering from illness or losing her mind so to say. Anyway good luck and just so you know put in a new change of address every year as they expire and will no longer be in the system unless you send in a new one.

Answer 3

first of all there is absolutely NO point in taking legal action against her. second of all its not like it was a private thing that you wouldnt have probably shared with her anyway....third....if you dont like it, MOVE OUT. youre a legal adult and want to be treated like one but when it comes to something so simple as mail, you throw a 4 year old fit..... youre NOT going to scare her by threatening to take legal action because she knows as much as you do--if not more, that you CANT sue for anything. so you would not only be kidding yourself but she would probably laugh at you. i say if you want to be treated like an adult, you have to start acting like an adult first. tell her that she can no longer open your mail OR MOVE OUT. you dont have any options here or send your mail to a PO box

Answer 4

you need to be responsible and put in a change of address, you moved out months ago if you would have done that then you would not have any problems.
why were you and your girl living with your great grandmother in the first place anyway?

Answer 5

Yes, it is illegal. You really can't do anything about it because you've let it continue for so long. I suggest you CHANGE YOUR ADDRESS with the postal service. Also, contact your former employer, etc. and change your address with them as well. It isn't hard to do.

Answer 6

Why do you want to get your great grandmother in trouble with the law?

Answer 7

Yes, It's illegal.
Also understandable.
A 'Great Granny` is not expected to have great eyesight.
Unless you can show some damages, let it go.

Answer 8

Forward all your mail to where you are at or get a PO box at your post and forward to it.

Answer 9

Wow--busted your fiance? It is illegal and a prisonable offense. Are you sure you wanna go tihs route?

Answer 10

no it is not legal and you can report it or even sue this is a federal offence but you could also be consideret and just change the box it is sent to.