During a lawsuit, you may need the court to step in before the final trial happens. To ask a judge for a specific order or to penalise the other side for breaking procedural rules, you must file a Notice of Motion.
Below is a plain-English guide for ordinary citizens (lay litigants) on how a Notice of Motion works, when to use it, and where to download the correct templates.
A Notice of Motion is a formal written application made to a judge during an ongoing court case. It tells the court and your opponent exactly what legal order you are asking for and the date the judge will hear your request.
In Irish courts, a Notice of Motion is almost always accompanied by a sworn document called an Affidavit, which sets out the facts and evidence supporting your request.
You typically use this document when the other party is ignoring court deadlines or failing to follow procedural rules:
The format of your motion depends entirely on which court is handling your overall lawsuit. Click below to download editable Word document templates to draft your paperwork:
Download Sample Notice of Motion (Circuit Court – Form 34)
Disclaimer: This page provides general informational templates for ordinary citizens representing themselves. It does not constitute formal legal advice. Court rules regarding motion deadlines and affidavit layouts can be complex. Consider consulting a legal professional if you are unsure.