Court Adjournments: Why They Happen and How to Handle Them
Why do courts adjourn cases? Learn about common reasons for court adjournments in Kuwait and how to use the time effectively to prepare your case.
Filing a Case & Procedure · By Fahad Alhaddad Law Firm · Published 2026-09-28 · Updated 2026-09-28
Litigants may feel frustrated when their case is adjourned. However, an adjournment is usually a procedural measure intended to safeguard all parties’ rights to present their case.
Common Reasons for Adjournments
Hearings are often adjourned to allow the exchange of written submissions, to await an expert’s report, or because formal service on the parties has not been completed.
The judge seeks to give each party sufficient time to respond to the other party’s submissions. This forms part of the principle that each party must have an opportunity to address the other’s case.
How Can You Make Use of an Adjournment?
Do not regard an adjournment as a “waste of time.” Use it to prepare a strong written submission responding to the opposing party’s allegations at the next hearing.
Review the documents again. You may find a weakness or a piece of evidence you overlooked the first time.
Do Adjournments Prolong Litigation?
Yes, adjournments prolong litigation, but they are sometimes necessary to ensure that the judgment is fair and not legally invalid.
Your lawyer should take care to prevent unjustified adjournments sought solely to delay proceedings.
Dealing with the Opposing Party’s Delaying Tactics
If the opposing party is using adjournments to delay proceedings, your lawyer should ask the court to reserve the case for judgment or reject unjustified adjournment requests.
The court has broad discretion to grant or refuse adjournment requests based on the reasons given by both parties.
Conclusion
Patience and thorough preparation of your case file help reduce the negative effects of adjournments.
Remember that the aim is always to obtain a fair judgment based on sound evidence.
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This article is general information, not legal advice, and does not replace consultation with a lawyer licensed in Kuwait. The official Arabic legal texts prevail over any English explanation.