What to do if…
you receive a notice that your court hearing has been moved to an earlier date

What to do now

1. Check the notice and confirm the listing with the court. Use the contact details on the notice first. Ask: “Is the hearing definitely listed for the earlier date, and what must I do if I cannot attend or prepare in time?”
2. Use an official contact route if you cannot get through. For England and Wales, use the GOV.UK court and tribunal finder. For Scotland or Northern Ireland, use the official courts service for that part of the UK or the contact details on your notice.
3. Save proof of when you received the notice. Keep the notice, envelope, email headers, text messages, screenshots, or portal notifications. Write down the date and time you first saw it.
4. Make a short record of your contact attempts. Note each call, email, webform, or message, including the time, number or address used, and any reply.
5. If you have a solicitor, barrister, adviser, or representative, send them the notice now. Ask them to confirm whether they can attend and whether an urgent application or request is needed.
6. Prepare one clear request. For example: “I received notice on [date]. The hearing has been moved to [date]. I cannot attend or prepare properly because [short reason]. I am asking for the hearing to be adjourned or moved, or for extra time to file documents.”
7. Ask the court what process applies to your case type. Civil, family, criminal, tribunal, Scotland, and Northern Ireland procedures can differ. Ask whether the court needs an application form, a written request, evidence, service on another party, or an oral request at the hearing.
8. For many civil cases in England and Wales, check whether Form N244 is needed. An application notice usually needs to say what order you want and briefly why. If you rely on facts, the court may need short supporting evidence, such as a witness statement or a statement of truth on the form.
9. If there is not enough time for a full application, still notify the court as soon as possible. If there is another party, notify them too unless the court tells you otherwise or there is a safety or confidentiality reason not to. Keep the message short and keep proof.
10. If you can attend but are not ready, plan to attend and raise the short-notice problem at the start. Ask for the practical help you need, such as a short adjournment, extra time to file evidence, or time to get legal advice.
11. Make a minimum hearing pack. Include the new notice, proof of when you received it, your contact-attempt record, a short timeline, and the exact order or outcome you are asking for.