My case was canceled. How do I reopen it?

knowledge base

Updated over a month ago

First, why was your case canceled?

Cases get canceled for many reasons. Some are within your control, some are not. Common reasons include:

You requested the cancellation
The case went to collections
No attorney was available to take the case
The case was overdue or it was too late to contest
The court had already closed the case
A court date was missed
The court entered a default judgment
The case was booked on too short notice to prepare
A duplicate case was booked for the same matter
A legal fee went unpaid
We were unable to reach you
The ticket was a non-moving violation the attorney determined was not worth contesting (this includes many automated camera tickets)

The reason your case was canceled determines whether it can be reopened.

When can your case be reopened

If your case was canceled for a reason that can be resolved or worked around, there is a good chance it can be reopened. This includes:

You canceled it yourself If you canceled your case and changed your mind, you can ask us to reopen it.
The case went to collections If you are able to get the case out of collections and the court is willing to schedule a new court date, we may be able to reopen it.
No attorney was available If an attorney becomes available to take your case, we may be able to reopen it.
A court date was missed If you contact the court and they are willing to reopen the case and schedule a new court date, we may be able to reopen it on our end.
Booked on too short notice If there is now enough time to properly prepare the case — for example, the court date has been pushed back — it may be possible to reopen it.
A legal fee went unpaid If you pay the legal fee in full and it is not too late to handle the case, we can reopen it.
We could not reach you If you become reachable and answer any outstanding questions, we may be able to reopen the case.

When your case usually cannot be reopened

Some cancellations are permanent because the underlying reason cannot be undone:

The court has closed the case If the case is closed in the courts and the court is unwilling to reopen it, there is nothing further that can be done.
The court entered a default judgment If a court date was missed and the court entered a default judgment that it is unwilling to remove, the case cannot be reopened.
No attorney is available If no attorney in our network is available to take your case, it cannot be reopened until one becomes available.

Most of these situations can be avoided by booking future cases immediately after receiving the ticket or being charged with a crime. Don’t delay, book early.

A note on non-moving violations and camera tickets

If your case was canceled because the attorney determined the ticket was a non-moving violation — including many automated camera tickets — that is usually a good thing. It typically means the ticket does not carry points and is not reported to your insurance, so there is nothing to gain by contesting it. In most cases, there is no reason to reopen these. If you have questions about why your specific ticket was deemed not worth contesting, reach out and we will explain.

Quick reference

Reason for cancellation Can it be reopened?
You canceled it yourself Often, just ask
Went to collections Sometimes, if resolved
No attorney available Sometimes, if one becomes available
Missed court date Sometimes, if the court agrees
Too short notice Sometimes, if there is now enough time
Unpaid legal fee Yes, once paid in full (if not too late)
Could not reach you Often, once you respond
Court closed the case Usually not
Default judgment entered Usually not
Non-moving / camera ticket Usually no reason to

Reason for cancellation	Can it be reopened?
You canceled it yourself	Often, just ask
Went to collections	Sometimes, if resolved
No attorney available	Sometimes, if one becomes available
Missed court date	Sometimes, if the court agrees
Too short notice	Sometimes, if there is now enough time
Unpaid legal fee	Yes, once paid in full (if not too late)
Could not reach you	Often, once you respond
Court closed the case	Usually not
Default judgment entered	Usually not
Non-moving / camera ticket	Usually no reason to

How to reopen your case

If you want to reopen a canceled case, contact our support team. A few things to keep in mind:

Do not book a new case for the same ticket or charge Booking a duplicate case creates confusion and can delay things. Always reopen the existing case instead.
If your case was canceled for non-payment, be ready to pay in full We can reopen the case once the legal fee is paid, as long as it is not too late to handle it.
Act quickly The sooner you reach out, the more likely it is that the case can still be reopened before your court date passes or the court closes the matter.

⚠️ Do not book a new case for the same ticket.

If you want to move forward with a case that was canceled, reach out to our support team to reopen the original case. Booking a duplicate case for the same matter can cause delays and confusion.