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What to do if…
you receive an official notice that you are charged or must appear for an alleged violation

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

Short answer

Keep every page, identify any appearance or response deadline, and verify the issuing court or agency through an independently found official contact route. Arrange legal advice promptly, especially if the notice describes a criminal charge, possible arrest, or a required court appearance.

Do not do these things

  • Do not ignore, destroy, alter, or write on the original notice.
  • Do not miss a deadline while deciding whether the allegation seems serious.
  • Do not assume that calling the court or agency automatically postpones or cancels an appearance.
  • Do not give police, prosecutors, investigators, or agency staff a detailed account of the allegation before obtaining legal advice.
  • Do not lie, submit altered material, delete relevant records, or ask someone else to change or hide information.
  • Do not contact anyone whom the notice or an existing order says you must not contact.
  • Do not post the notice or discuss the allegation on social media.
  • Do not pay, admit the allegation, enter a plea, or waive a hearing without first understanding what that choice may do.
  • Do not send money or personal information through an unverified link, telephone number, or payment method.

What to do now

  1. Read the entire notice once. Find the alleged charge or violation, issuing court or agency, case or citation number, required response, appearance date and time, location, and whether attendance is in person or remote.

  2. Photograph or scan every page. Keep the original notice, envelope, attachments, delivery record, and any proof of when you received it together in a safe place.

  3. Verify the sender independently. Locate the court or agency through an official federal, state, county, municipal, territorial, or tribal government website and use the contact details published there. Confirm that the case number, date, location, and instructions match the notice.

  4. Record every stated deadline and appearance in your calendar with more than one reminder. Treat the existing instructions as active unless the court or agency formally changes them.

  5. Identify the type of matter described. For a criminal charge, contact a criminal defense lawyer licensed where the case was filed. For a civil infraction, regulatory allegation, or administrative violation, seek a lawyer familiar with that kind of proceeding.

  6. If you cannot afford a lawyer in a criminal case, ask the court clerk or local public defender office how eligibility for appointed counsel is assessed and when a request can be made. Availability and procedures vary by court and type of charge.

  7. Ask the clerk about procedure only, such as attendance instructions, accessibility or language accommodations, courthouse requirements, and how to address a scheduling problem. Court staff generally cannot give you legal advice.

  8. Preserve material that may relate to the allegation, including messages, photographs, receipts, documents, location records, and names of possible witnesses. Keep original versions and avoid editing, annotating, or deleting them.

  9. If the deadline or appearance is today, has passed, or cannot be met, contact a lawyer and the issuing court or agency immediately. Ask what formal process applies and do not assume that leaving a message excuses the missed requirement.

  10. Prepare for the appearance by gathering the notice, government-issued identification, your lawyer’s details, and anything the court specifically requires. Arrive or join early enough to deal with security, parking, or connection problems.

  11. If police question you about the allegation, do not lie or physically resist. You can state that you do not want to answer questions about the allegation and want to speak with a lawyer.

What can wait

You do not need to decide on a plea, prepare a complete defense, contact witnesses, explain the allegation publicly, or work through every possible consequence now. First protect the deadline, verify the notice, preserve relevant material, follow any stated conditions, and seek appropriate legal advice.

Important reassurance

An allegation or charge is not the same as a final finding or conviction. You can take the first protective steps without understanding or resolving the whole matter today.

Scope note

This guide covers immediate first steps only. Later decisions about pleas, hearings, evidence, defenses, payment, release conditions, immigration effects, licensing consequences, or record issues may require advice from a lawyer familiar with the specific court, agency, and allegation.

Important note

This is general information, not legal advice or legal representation. Procedures and rights vary between federal, state, county, municipal, territorial, tribal, military, and administrative systems. Follow the verified notice and advice from a qualified lawyer handling your matter.

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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