Before you start completing the Motion to Continue, make sure you have the following information ready:

Case & Court Information

  • Court Name (Family Division location)

  • Case Number (if already assigned)

  • Case Name – In the matter of [Petitioner] and [Respondent]

Filing Party Information

For the person submitting the motion (Petitioner or Respondent):

  • Full legal name (first, middle, last)

  • Complete mailing address (street, city/town, state, ZIP code)

  • Telephone number

  • Email address

Court Event Details

You’ll need to gather the following information about the upcoming and prior court events:

  • Type of hearing you’re asking to continue (e.g., Pretrial Conference, Final Hearing, Status Conference)

  • Date and time of the scheduled hearing

  • Date the Notice of Hearing was issued

  • Type of last court event (e.g., Temporary Hearing, Review Hearing, etc.)

  • Date of the last court event

  • Result or outcome of the last court event (e.g., temporary orders entered, continued for further hearing, etc.)

Filing History

  • Who initiated the case (Petitioner or Respondent)

  • Type of document that began the case (e.g., Petition for Divorce, Petition to Change Parenting Plan)

  • Date that initiating document was filed

Reason for Continuance

Be prepared to explain:

  • Why you need the continuance (for example: medical issue, scheduling conflict, awaiting discovery, new counsel, etc.)

  • Length of continuance requested (e.g., one week, 30 days, next available date, etc.)

  • Whether the continuance would cause prejudice to the other party, and if not, why (e.g., “will not cause delay or hardship”)

  • Whether granting the continuance is in the interest of judicial economy (helps ensure the hearing is productive and fair)

Filing Timeliness

You’ll need to indicate:

  • Whether this motion is filed in accordance with NH Family Division Rule 1.27(B) (within 10 days of the hearing notice)

  • Whether this motion is filed more than 10 days after the notice was mailed (if so, briefly explain why)

Communication With the Other Party

  • Whether you made a good faith attempt to obtain agreement from the other side about continuing the hearing

    • If yes: provide

      • Method of contact (phone, email, text, etc.)

      • Date and time of attempt

      • How the other party responded and when

    • If no: explain why it was not reasonable to expect agreement (for example: “the other party has previously opposed all continuances,” or “urgent need for new counsel”)

Requested Relief

You’ll need to specify what you want the Court to do:

  • Grant the Motion to Continue

  • Remove the currently scheduled hearing from the docket

  • Reschedule the hearing for a later date or per the Court’s next available calendar

  • Note any dates you are unavailable for rescheduling