Court Summons in Ukraine: Service and Non-Appearance • DSA GROUP

A court summons is an official notice that the court expects you at a hearing or informs you of its date. How and when the summons was served determines whether the court can hear the case without you. Below we explain how court summonses are served in civil, administrative, commercial and criminal proceedings. We also explain when a summons is deemed served even without your signature, what it must contain, how to check a case and what happens if you do not appear. The law is stated as at 28 October 2026.

Summons to appear and summons-notice

If the court considers your attendance mandatory, it summons you with a summons to appear. If not, it only informs you of the date, time and place of the hearing with a summons-notice (parts 1–4 of Article 128 of the Civil Procedure Code of Ukraine (CPC); Article 124 of the Code of Administrative Procedure of Ukraine (CAP)).
A summons-notice must state that your participation is not mandatory (part 3 of Article 129 CPC).
In commercial proceedings there are no separate summonses: participants are summoned and notified by a court ruling, which is served in the same way as court decisions (part 3 of Article 120 of the Commercial Procedure Code of Ukraine (CommPC)).
In criminal proceedings, a person is summoned to an investigating judge or a court by a summons to appear (Article 135 of the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine (CrPC)).
A court summons has nothing to do with summonses from territorial recruitment centres – those are covered in our article on mobilisation.

How a summons is served

Electronic cabinet. If you have one, the summons is sent there (part 6 of Article 128 CPC, paragraph 1 of part 3 of Article 124 CAP). Advocates, notaries, authorities, legal entities and certain other persons must register an electronic cabinet; for everyone else it is voluntary (part 6 of Article 14 CPC). A person with an electronic cabinet is served court documents exclusively in electronic form (part 7 of Article 14 CPC).
Post or courier. If there is no electronic cabinet, the summons is sent by registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt or by courier to the address stated in the case (part 6 of Article 128 CPC). If no address was given to the court, the summons is sent to a legal entity or an individual entrepreneur at the address in the Unified State Register, and to an individual at their registered place of residence or stay (part 7 of Article 128 CPC, part 4 of Article 124 CAP).
Against signature. A summons is served personally against signature. If you are not at home, it may be handed to an adult family member living with you – and then you are deemed duly notified (parts 1 and 3 of Article 130 CPC; part 4 of Article 126 CAP). If you do not live at the address given to the court, the summons may be sent to your place of work (part 6 of Article 130 CPC). Service on your representative counts as service on you (part 5 of Article 130 CPC).
SMS, e-mail, telephone. On the written application of a participant without an electronic cabinet, the court may notify them by SMS with a link to the ruling in the Unified State Register of Court Decisions (part 13 of Article 128 CPC). In administrative proceedings, on such an application the text of the summons is sent by e-mail, SMS or telephone message (Article 129 CAP). A witness, expert, interpreter or specialist may be summoned by telephone message, e-mail or mobile communication (part 9 of Article 128 CPC).
Notice on the judiciary website. If the registered place of residence, location or place of work of a defendant, third party or witness is unknown, they are summoned by a notice on the official website of the judiciary of Ukraine no later than ten days before the hearing. Once the notice is published, the person is deemed notified (part 11 of Article 128 CPC; Article 130 CAP).
In criminal proceedings, a summons is served in person, sent by post, e-mail or fax, or the person is summoned by telephone or telegram (part 1 of Article 135 CrPC). If you are temporarily away from home, the summons is handed over against signature, for passing on to you, to an adult family member or another person living with you, to the housing maintenance organisation or to the administration at your place of work (part 2 of Article 135 CrPC).

When a summons is deemed served

A summons you have not received is not always a summons that has not been served. The day of service of a court summons is (part 8 of Article 128 CPC):

the day it was served against signature;
the day the court received notification that the summons was delivered to your electronic cabinet; if it was sent there after 5 p.m. – the next working day;
the day the post office marked on the acknowledgement of receipt that the summons was refused;
the day the post office marked that the person was absent at the address they themselves gave the court, or at the registered address if no other address was given to the court.

If you have moved and not informed the court, a summons sent to the last address known to the court is deemed delivered even if you no longer live there (part 1 of Article 131 CPC; part 1 of Article 131 CAP). A person who refused to accept a summons is deemed notified (part 9 of Article 130 CPC). In administrative proceedings, a summons returned by post for reasons beyond the court’s control is also deemed duly served (part 11 of Article 126 CAP).

How many days in advance you must be notified

Civil proceedings – a summons to appear is served so that you have enough time to prepare, but no later than five days before the hearing; a summons-notice – in good time (part 5 of Article 128 CPC).
Administrative proceedings – no later than five days before the hearing, unless served directly in court (part 3 of Article 126 CAP).
Commercial proceedings – the ruling summoning a person is served in good time, so that there are at least five days to appear and prepare; in urgent cases the court may shorten this period (part 4 of Article 120 CommPC).
Criminal proceedings – no later than three days before the day of appearance (part 9 of Article 135 CrPC). Late receipt of a summons is a valid reason for failure to appear (paragraph 7 of part 1 of Article 138 CrPC).
Administrative offence cases – the summons is served on the person being brought to liability no later than three days before the case is heard in court (Article 277-2 of the Code of Ukraine on Administrative Offences (CUAO)).

If the summons was served late, inform the court and ask it to adjourn the hearing. How to do this is explained in our article on the request to adjourn a court hearing.

What a summons must contain

A summons to appear in a civil case must contain (part 1 of Article 129 CPC):

the name of the individual or legal entity to whom it is addressed;
the name and address of the court, and the place, day and time of appearance;
the name of the case and your procedural status: claimant, defendant, third party, witness, expert, specialist or interpreter;
whether you are summoned to a court hearing or to a preparatory hearing, and in the case of a repeated summons of a party – whether your personal explanations are required;
an explanation of the consequences of failure to appear (a fine, compulsory appearance, hearing the case in your absence, leaving the application without consideration) and of the obligation to inform the court of the reasons for failure to appear.

In criminal proceedings, the summons states, in particular, the judge’s surname and position, the number of the proceedings, the procedural action, the consequences of failure to appear and the valid reasons for not appearing (Article 137 CrPC).

How to check the case

Check the case number in the “Case Status” service on the judiciary web portal (court.gov.ua/fair/): it shows the stage the case is at. Take the court’s contact details from its official page, not from the text of the letter or message. If you have an electronic cabinet, the court sends the documents in the case there.

What to do when you receive a summons

Find out who is summoning you and in what capacity: the court, the case number, your role, the date, time and place.
Read the materials: the claim, the ruling, the attached documents. If you are summoned as a defendant, check the time limit for the statement of defence.
Decide how you will take part: in person, through a representative or by video link. A witness may take part in the hearing by video link if the participants in the case do not object. Due to illness, old age, disability or other valid reasons, the court may allow this even if they do object (part 2 of Article 69 CPC).
If you cannot attend, inform the court of the reasons and attach evidence. If you do not, you are deemed to have failed to appear without valid reasons (part 3 of Article 131 CPC).
Inform the court of any change of address, telephone or e-mail: otherwise summonses will go to your old contacts and be deemed served (parts 1–2 of Article 131 CPC).

What happens if you do not appear

A party to a civil or administrative case

The absence of a duly notified participant does not prevent the court from hearing the case on the merits, except in cases provided for by law (part 1 of Article 223 CPC; part 1 of Article 205 CAP).
The court adjourns the hearing if there is no information that you were served with the notice, or if this is your first absence for reasons the court has found valid (paragraphs 1–2 of part 2 of Article 223 CPC).
If you did not appear without valid reasons or did not report the reasons, the case will be heard without you (paragraph 1 of part 3 of Article 223 CPC).
After a repeated absence of a duly notified defendant, the court decides the case on the basis of the available data or evidence, i.e. adopts a judgment in absentia (part 4 of Article 223 CPC).
A repeated absence of the claimant without valid reasons or without reporting the reasons is a ground for leaving the claim without consideration. Exception: the claimant asked for the case to be heard in their absence and their non-appearance does not prevent the dispute from being resolved (part 5 of Article 223 CPC).
Similar rules apply in administrative proceedings (Article 205 CAP).

A witness

A witness must appear in court when summoned and give truthful testimony. If they cannot attend and cannot take part by video link, they must inform the court in advance (parts 2–3 of Article 69 CPC). In criminal proceedings, a witness must appear when summoned (paragraph 1 of part 2 of Article 66 CrPC).
A duly summoned witness who failed to appear without valid reasons or did not report the reasons may be subjected to compulsory appearance through the police, with reimbursement of its costs (part 1 of Article 147 CPC). Not subject to compulsory appearance are, in particular, minors, pregnant women, persons with disabilities of groups I and II, and persons caring for children under six or children with disabilities (part 4 of Article 147 CPC).
A witness is entitled to compensation for expenses related to the summons to court (part 4 of Article 69 CPC).
Malicious evasion of appearance in court by a witness, victim, claimant or defendant is punishable by a fine of 50 to 150 tax-free minimum incomes of citizens. A repeated offence within a year is punishable by a fine of 150 to 250 tax-free minimum incomes, correctional labour or administrative arrest for up to 15 days (Article 185-3 CUAO).

Criminal proceedings

A suspect or accused must appear when summoned and, if unable to do so, inform the authority in advance (paragraph 1 of part 7 of Article 42 CrPC).
For failure to appear when summoned by an investigating judge or a court without valid reasons or without reporting them, a suspect, accused, witness, victim or certain other participants face a monetary penalty of 0.5 to 2 subsistence minimums for able-bodied persons (part 1 of Article 139 CrPC). From 1 January 2026 this subsistence minimum is UAH 3,328 (Article 7 of the Law of Ukraine “On the State Budget of Ukraine for 2026”), so the penalty is UAH 1,664 to 6,656.
Compulsory appearance may be applied to a suspect, accused or witness (part 2 of Article 139 CrPC). Compulsory appearance of a witness is not applied, in particular, to minors, pregnant women, persons with disabilities of group I or II, or persons solely raising children under six or children with disabilities (part 3 of Article 140 CrPC).
If an accused who has not been remanded in custody fails to appear at a court hearing, the court adjourns the trial and takes measures to secure their appearance. The court may issue a ruling on compulsory appearance and/or a monetary penalty (part 1 of Article 323 CrPC).
Valid reasons for failure to appear include, in particular, detention or custody, force majeure (including military actions), prolonged absence due to a business trip or travel, serious illness or treatment in a healthcare institution, the death of relatives or a serious threat to their life, and late receipt of the summons (Article 138 CrPC).

An administrative offence case

The case is heard in the presence of the person being brought to liability. Without them, the case may be heard only if there is evidence that they were notified in good time and they have not asked for an adjournment (Article 268 CUAO).
In cases under certain articles (among them part 1 of Article 44, Articles 51, 173 and 185 CUAO), the person’s presence is mandatory. If such a person evades appearing when summoned by a judge, they may be subjected to compulsory appearance (Article 268 CUAO).

Frequently asked questions

A family member received the summons. Am I deemed notified?

Yes, if an adult family member living with you received the summons against signature (part 3 of Article 130 CPC; part 4 of Article 126 CAP). The person who received the summons must hand it to you at the first opportunity (paragraph 8 of part 1 of Article 129 CPC), and in administrative proceedings – inform you of it immediately (part 4 of Article 126 CAP).

I do not live at my registered address. What happens to the summons?

If you did not give the court another address, a post office note that you are absent at your registered address means that the summons has been served (paragraph 4 of part 8 of Article 128 CPC). Give the court your current address or register an electronic cabinet – then summonses will go there (part 6 of Article 128 CPC).

Can I send an advocate instead of appearing myself?

Yes, if the court has not found your personal attendance mandatory: when your representative appears at the hearing, the case is heard without you (paragraph 4 of part 3 of Article 223 CPC). If the court needs your personal explanations, it may adjourn the hearing (paragraph 5 of part 2 of Article 223 CPC).

I have been summoned as a witness. Can I refuse to testify?

You must appear. A witness may refuse to testify only in cases established by law (part 4 of Article 69 CPC). In criminal proceedings, this covers, in particular, testimony about oneself, close relatives and family members that may become grounds for suspicion or accusation (paragraph 3 of part 1 of Article 66 CrPC). How to prepare for questioning is explained in our article “Questioning as a Witness: Three Mistakes to Avoid”.

This article is for information only, reflects the law as at 28 October 2026 and is not a substitute for advice on your situation.

Received a court summons? An advocate will find out in which case and in what capacity you are summoned, review the materials, prepare a statement of defence or a request and represent you in court → Civil and commercial disputes · Challenging administrative rulings and fines · Defence in the court of first instance. If you are summoned by an investigator – assistance at questioning.

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