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What to do if…
you receive a notice that you could be held in contempt for not complying with a court order

Produced and maintained by PanicStation.org Published: Last reviewed: Editorial policy UK guide

Short answer

Treat it as urgent: find the hearing date, the filing deadline, and the exact order you are said to have breached. Contact a solicitor immediately, and if you can safely comply with the order now, start doing that and keep proof.

Do not do these things

  • Do not ignore the notice, even if you think the other side is wrong.
  • Do not miss the hearing unless the court has confirmed a change in writing.
  • Do not contact the judge directly or send informal explanations outside the court process.
  • Do not destroy, edit, rename, or “tidy up” messages, documents, bank records, call logs, or delivery records.
  • Do not admit contempt or agree wording you do not understand just to make the pressure stop.
  • Do not assume the court office can give legal advice; use it for administrative questions only.
  • Do not assume a rule or legal aid route from one UK court system applies to the court named on your notice.

What to do now

  1. Read the notice once for essentials: write down the court name, case number, hearing date and time, how the hearing will happen, and any deadline for filing evidence or a statement.
  2. Identify the order you are said to have breached: find the original order or undertaking, the date it was made, the exact wording you were supposed to follow, and any penal notice warning about contempt, imprisonment, a fine, or committal.
  3. Contact legal help urgently: if you already have a solicitor, send them the notice and the original order now. If you do not, contact a solicitor who deals with the type of court named on the notice and say there may be contempt or committal proceedings.
  4. Ask about legal aid or emergency representation: if the notice mentions committal or possible imprisonment, say that clearly when you contact a solicitor. Legal aid and representation routes depend on the court and the part of the UK named on the notice, so ask for advice that matches your court.
  5. Call the court office for logistics only: use the contact details on the notice or the official court finder. Confirm the hearing time, whether it is in person or remote, and whether the notice gives any filing method or deadline. Write down the date, time, and name of the person you spoke to.
  6. If you can safely comply now, start: make the payment, send the document, return the item, attend the appointment, remove the post, or do the specific act the order requires. Keep proof such as receipts, screenshots, confirmation emails, tracking records, or bank confirmations.
  7. If you cannot comply fully, make a short evidence timeline: list what the order required, what you did, what stopped you complying, what proof you have, and what you can do now. Keep it factual and dated.
  8. Collect the core documents in one place: the original order, the contempt or committal notice, any application or evidence served with it, your proof of compliance or attempted compliance, and any documents showing why compliance was impossible or delayed.
  9. Prepare to attend the hearing: arrange time off, transport, childcare, phone battery, internet access, and a quiet place if remote. If you need an interpreter, disability adjustment, or urgent timetable change, ask the court office how to make that request and tell your solicitor.
  10. Ask your solicitor what application or response is needed: depending on the court and the order, they may advise asking for more time, clarification, variation, a stay, or another step. Do not guess the formal route on your own if the notice mentions contempt or committal.

What can wait

  • You do not need to write a perfect full history today; focus on the notice, deadlines, legal help, and proof.
  • You do not need to decide every argument in the underlying case right now.
  • You do not need to make a complaint about the other side today unless your solicitor says it is needed for the immediate hearing.
  • You do not need to solve the whole dispute before taking the first stabilising steps.

Important reassurance

A contempt notice is serious, but it is not the same as already being punished. The safest next move is to show that you are taking the court order seriously, getting advice, preserving evidence, and doing what you safely can to comply.

Scope note

These are first steps only. The right response depends on the court, the wording of the order, how you were served, what is alleged, and what evidence exists, so later decisions may need specialist legal help.

Important note

This guide is general information only, not legal advice or professional advice. If the notice mentions contempt, committal, imprisonment, a fine, or arrest, treat it as urgent and seek professional representation.

Additional Resources

Closely connected guides that may be useful during the same situation or its immediate aftermath.

About this guide

This guide was produced and is maintained by PanicStation.org using its published editorial process. Official and specialist sources are checked where relevant, and AI-assisted tools may be used for drafting, organisation, and consistency checks. The site operator remains responsible for publication, revision, and removal decisions.

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