Appeal a magistrates’ court decision
If you did not know about your case
You could ask for your case to be reopened if you did not know about it, so you were not able to plead either guilty or not guilty.
You’ll need to make a legal statement known as a ‘statutory declaration’ to reopen your case.
You usually need to do this within 21 days of finding out about the proceedings.
How to make a legal statement
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Download a statutory declaration form (called an ‘ignorance of proceedings form’) or ask for a copy at your local magistrates’ court.
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Fill out the form telling the court when and how you heard about your court case. You’ll need to provide details of where and when your hearing was held.
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Arrange an appointment to make your statutory declaration. This could be before any magistrates’ court or a legal representative such as a solicitor. Making a statutory declaration before the court is free, you will have to pay to make one before a legal representative.
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Bring a written plea (or a completed single justice procedure notice if you have one) to your appointment, along with your statutory declaration.
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Sign and date your statutory declaration form when you’re at your appointment.
After you’ve made a legal statement
If the court accepts your statutory declaration they will reopen your case.
You can still be guilty of the offence, even if you did not know about your case.
If your case is reopened and you’re found guilty, your sentence or fine (or both) might be increased. If you’re found not guilty then all charges against you will be dropped.