Notice of Commencement: when a case officially starts

A notice of commencement is the formal document sent to the other party to inform them that a case has been filed against them in the Syariah Court. It marks the official point at which the case timeline in court begins.

In real cases, this notice usually takes the form of a saman or an application notice, and states the first hearing date the recipient must attend. The party receiving it must act within the set period, either by filing a written response or attending in person.

Failing to act after receiving the notice can lead to a decision being made without that party present, since the court treats them as having been properly informed of the case.

How the notice is served, whether by personal delivery or another method, can differ under each state court’s directions. Read more on saman and applications that connect to this.