Life doesn't always cooperate with a court schedule. Somebody gets sick, a key piece of evidence surfaces late, a work conflict turns out to be unavoidable — and suddenly the settlement conference or trial date you've had circled on the calendar for months isn't one you can actually make. An adjournment is the tool for that situation, but it comes with more conditions than most people expect going in.
What an adjournment actually is
An adjournment is simply a postponement of a scheduled court date — most commonly a settlement conference or a trial — to a later date. It doesn't cancel the step, change what's required of you, or resolve anything about the underlying dispute; it just moves the date on the calendar. Once granted, the matter is typically rescheduled to a new date, which itself may take some additional time to arrange depending on the court's availability.
Why an adjournment is never automatic
It's worth being clear-eyed about this from the outset: requesting an adjournment is not the same as receiving one. Courts generally expect both parties to show up ready to proceed on the date they were given, and scheduling a new date has real costs — for the other party, who may have arranged time off work or lined up witnesses, and for the court system generally, which is already working through a substantial volume of cases. Because of that, an adjournment is granted only where there's a good reason, not simply because a date happens to be inconvenient.
What generally counts as a good reason
Some circumstances are widely accepted as legitimate grounds for an adjournment. Illness, whether your own or that of an immediate family member, is one of the most common and most readily accepted reasons. A genuine scheduling conflict — something unavoidable, booked before the court date was set, and not simply a preference — is another. So is needing additional time to gather evidence after a late development in the case, such as new information coming to light shortly before the hearing. Ongoing settlement negotiations that appear close to resolving the dispute can also justify a short adjournment, since resolving a matter without a hearing at all benefits everyone, including the court. What these all have in common is that they're specific, genuine, and generally something outside your full control — as opposed to simply not having gotten around to preparing.
How to actually make the request
The mechanics vary somewhat depending on timing and the court location, but the general process involves either bringing a motion or making a direct request to the court, explaining the reason and proposing (or asking the court to set) a new date. Whenever possible, the request should be made well before the scheduled date rather than at the last minute, and ideally with the other side's consent, or at minimum with advance notice given to them so they aren't blindsided. A request that comes with the other party's agreement in writing, or even just their acknowledgment that they don't object, tends to move through far more smoothly than one the court has to sort out unilaterally with an unhappy party on the other side.
The risk of asking late or without a good reason
Leaving an adjournment request until the last possible moment, or making one without a genuine reason behind it, carries real risk. The court may simply refuse the request outright and expect the matter to proceed as scheduled — which, if you're not ready, can go badly for you. Alternatively, the court may grant the adjournment but order you to pay costs to the other side, to compensate them for wasted preparation, travel, or lost time. Either outcome is worth avoiding, and both are far less likely if the reason is genuine and the request is made as early as circumstances allow.
Practical tips for a smoother request
A few habits make an adjournment request far more likely to succeed. Ask as soon as you realize there's a problem — don't wait to see if the situation resolves itself. Be specific and honest about the reason rather than vague. Reach out to the other side directly, if you can do so appropriately, to see whether they'll consent or at least won't oppose the request. Propose an alternative date range if you're able to, rather than leaving the court to guess at your availability. And keep any supporting documentation — a doctor's note, an email chain showing the scheduling conflict — in case the court or the other side wants to see it. None of this guarantees the request will be granted, but it substantially improves the odds.
Frequently asked questions
Is an adjournment automatic if I ask for one?
No. Courts generally expect parties to be ready to proceed on their scheduled date, and will only grant an adjournment for a good reason. Simply asking is not enough on its own.
What counts as a good reason for an adjournment?
Common legitimate reasons include illness, a genuine and unavoidable scheduling conflict, needing more time to gather evidence after something came up late, or ongoing settlement negotiations that are close to resolving the matter.
Do I need the other side's agreement to get an adjournment?
Not necessarily, but it helps enormously. A request made with the other side's consent, or at least with advance notice to them, is far more likely to be granted smoothly than one sprung on the other party and the court at the last minute.
What happens if I ask for an adjournment at the last minute without a good reason?
The court may simply refuse the request and proceed as scheduled, or it may grant the adjournment but order you to pay costs to the other side for the inconvenience and expense caused.