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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

Short answer

Treat this as urgent: find the deadline and hearing date, and get legal advice immediately. If you can safely comply with the original order now (even partially), do so and keep clear proof.

Do not do these things

  • Do not ignore the notice or assume “it will sort itself out” if you explain later.
  • Do not miss the hearing date (or attend without key documents) unless the court has confirmed a change in writing.
  • Do not contact the judge directly or try to “explain your side” by informal email/letter outside the proper process.
  • Do not destroy, edit, or “clean up” records (messages, bank statements, logs). That can make things worse.
  • Do not agree to anything (including admissions) just to make it go away if you don’t understand what you’re agreeing to.

What to do now

  1. Stop and read for the essentials (2 minutes): highlight (a) the court name and claim/case number, (b) what order you’re said to have breached, (c) the exact alleged breach, (d) any deadline to file a response/statement, and (e) the hearing date/time.
  2. Work out which UK legal system you’re in (this changes the rules):
    • England & Wales: contempt/committal in civil cases is commonly handled using Civil Procedure Rules (CPR) Part 81 processes.
    • Scotland or Northern Ireland: terms and procedures differ—treat the notice as urgent and get local legal advice for that nation’s courts.
  3. Check what kind of document this is: if it mentions “committal”, “contempt”, “penal notice”, “imprisonment”, or “you may be committed to prison”, treat it as high-risk and time-sensitive.
  4. Get legal help urgently (same day if possible):
    • If you already have a solicitor in the underlying case, contact them immediately and forward the notice.
    • If the notice suggests committal / possible imprisonment and you are in England & Wales, ask a solicitor about legal aid for civil contempt (committal) proceedings.
    • If you are in Scotland/Northern Ireland, ask a local solicitor about the relevant legal aid route there.
  5. Call the court office (not the judge) to confirm logistics: use the number on the notice/court website to confirm the hearing time, whether it’s in-person/remote, and what documents the court expects filed and by when. Write down the name of the person you spoke to and the time/date.
  6. If you can comply safely, start doing it now: even partial compliance can matter. Keep proof (screenshots, receipts, confirmation emails, delivery tracking, bank confirmations).
  7. If you cannot comply (or cannot comply fully), document why in a clean timeline:
    • What you did to try to comply (with dates).
    • What prevented compliance (facts you can evidence).
    • What you can do now and by when.
    • Gather supporting documents (emails, medical letters, employer letters, bank logs, delivery issues, etc.).
  8. Prepare a simple evidence bundle for the hearing: save/print the original order, the notice, your timeline, and key proof of compliance/attempts. Keep it organised and easy to reference.
  9. Ask your solicitor about the right “fix” to request: depending on the court and order, this may include asking to extend time, vary the order, clarify the terms, or pause/stay enforcement while you complete specific steps.
  10. Plan to attend the hearing: arrange time off, childcare, transport, and a quiet place if remote. Being absent can remove your chance to explain and show proof.

What can wait

  • You do not need to write a perfect long narrative right now—focus on deadlines, proof, and getting advice.
  • You do not need to argue the whole underlying case today—this is about compliance with an existing order.
  • You do not need to decide whether to complain about the other side’s conduct right now—park that until the contempt risk is stabilised.

Important reassurance

Getting a contempt warning does not automatically mean you will be punished. Courts generally look closely at what the order required, what you actually did, and whether any non-compliance was deliberate or avoidable—your job right now is to show you are taking it seriously and acting promptly.

Scope note

This is first steps only to reduce immediate risk and prevent avoidable mistakes. The right response depends heavily on the type of court, the exact order, and the alleged breach, so tailored legal advice is important.

Important note

This guide is general information, not legal advice. If the notice indicates possible committal/imprisonment, treat it as urgent and seek professional representation.

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