What Happens if You Miss a Court Date?

If you miss a court date related to your divorce or family law case, it’s a serious matter that can lead to serious consequences. For example, if it’s a child custody case, it can lead to an automatic default judgment that leaves you with no further recourse. This said, if it is an isolated incident in which you made an honest mistake, the court may take pity and give you a second chance. The best course of action, however, is always showing up on time for every court appearance and having an experienced San Antonio Family lawyer on your side.

The Consequences of Missing a Court Date

Missing a family law appearance that you’ve been scheduled for can lead to dramatic consequences that can derail your legal efforts up to that point. In a child custody case, for example, the court could simply enter that default judgment against you, which means that your ex’s representation of the case will be accepted as correct. Even more dire consequences can include:

• Terminating the parenting time schedule you currently have with your children until the issue is resolved.
• Simply awarding custody to your children’s other parent with no further legal consideration.

The court is unlikely to take such drastic measures in response to an honest error, but showing up for your court appearances should always be a top priority.

A Note about Emergencies

If you have been injured in an accident or are seriously ill and cannot make it to your court date, it can’t be helped, but you shouldn’t leave it at that. If you are able to do so, you should notify your attorney or the court as soon as possible.

If You’re Late for Your Court Date

If you realize that you’re going to be late for your family law court date, now is not the time to cut your losses and simply not show up. The best plan is to contact your attorney as soon as you recognize that you’re going to be late and get to the courthouse as quickly as you can. If you show up, there is a chance that the court will listen to your side of the case. If you don’t, however, there’s no chance.

Be on Time

There are several tips and tricks that can help ensure that you show up for your court dates on time, including:

• Make sure your attorney and the court have your current contact information – in case there are any scheduling changes.
• Pay careful attention to the court date itself and plan everything else around it.
• If you haven’t been to the courthouse before, do a dry run so you’re confident about how long it’s going to take you to get there and find parking.
• Plan on arriving at least 15 minutes early.

Seek the Legal Guidance of an Experienced San Antonio Family Lawyer

The accomplished San Antonio family lawyers at Hoelscher Gebbia Cepeda are committed to helping our clients resolve their family law concerns favorably and do everything we can to help protect their rights. We’re on your side, so please don’t put off contacting us online or calling us at 210-222-9132 for more information today.