What to do if…
you receive an official letter saying you missed a court date you did not know about

What to do now

1. Pause and do a quick authenticity check (2–5 minutes).
   Look for: your correct name, a case/reference number, the name of the court/issuing body, and what the letter is asking you to do. Be alert for scam pressure tactics (panic + urgency + payment).

2. Find the court’s real contact details independently (not from the letter).
   Use the official “Find a court or tribunal” service to locate the court’s phone/email/address. If the letter doesn’t clearly name a court, use any reference numbers or the issuing area to narrow it down.

3. Contact the court office and confirm the basics.
   Ask for:

   • Whether the case exists and is linked to you (they may confirm using name/DOB/address as needed).
   • What type of case it is (for example, magistrates’ criminal/fines, Crown Court, county court civil).
   • What happened on the date you “missed” (heard in absence, adjourned, conviction, judgment).
   • Whether any warrant or enforcement action is active and what the safest next step is (for example, a relisted hearing date or a formal application).

4. If it’s a magistrates’ court case and you genuinely did not know about it, ask whether a statutory declaration is the right route (England & Wales).
   In England & Wales, if you didn’t know about the proceedings, you can usually apply to reopen a magistrates’ court case by making a statutory declaration, and there is usually an expectation to do this within 21 days of finding out.
   Ask the court:

   • Whether you are in time, and if you’re not, whether/how they accept a late declaration.
   • How to arrange it (some courts will list you to make it at court; otherwise you may be told to make it before a solicitor/authorised person and then file/serve it).
   • Exactly where to send it and what to include (case number, dates, your address at the time).

5. If the letter is about a Single Justice Procedure notice you never saw (England & Wales), tell the court you didn’t know about the case and ask how to reopen it.
   Ask what they need from you (for example, a statutory declaration or a specific application route) and what deadline they’re working to.

6. If it’s a county court civil judgment (for example, a default judgment/CCJ) you didn’t know about, ask about setting aside and act quickly.
   Tell the court you did not receive the original claim. Ask:

   • What application route they require (often a “general application” to set aside a default judgment).
   • What evidence they want (proof of address change, dates you moved, post issues).
   • Any fee/fee-remission options, and how to submit the application safely.

7. Update your contact details on the case file immediately.
   Give your current address, email, and phone number and ask the court to confirm they’ve updated the record so future notices reach you.

8. If the court indicates a warrant/arrest risk, don’t improvise.
   Ask what their safe process is for resolving it (often by listing a “return to court” hearing). If you can, speak to a criminal defence solicitor before attending in person and tell them exactly what the court said.

9. Keep a clean paper trail.
   Photograph/scan the letter, note the date you received it, and record: who you spoke to, time/date, and what they told you. Keep evidence that you didn’t receive earlier paperwork (tenancy end/start dates, council tax bill, mail redirection confirmation, etc.).

10. If you’re in Scotland or Northern Ireland:
    Still do steps 1–3, 7, and 9. Then ask the court what the equivalent remedy/process is when you didn’t know about proceedings, and what deadlines apply where you live.