Notice of ceasing to act (Form 80)
UCPR Form 80 is the notice a solicitor files in NSW civil proceedings after ceasing to act for a client. It follows a notice of intention served 7 or 28 days earlier.
Word document from New South Wales Courts' website.
DraftOur fillable copy of this form has not been through editorial review yet. Check it against New South Wales Courts' current form before you rely on it.
- Format
- Word (DOCX)
- Category
- Court form
- Form number
- Form 80
- Version
- v3676c1cf
- Last updated
- 14 October 2026
Supreme Court of NSW · District Court of NSW · Local Court of NSW · Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005
For law practices: this form maps to the published matter-field vocabulary, so your practice management system fills it from your matter data - on your own machine. Practice management systems can fetch and assemble it through the document assembly API.
What Form 80 is for
A solicitor who ceases to act for a party may file notice of the change and serve it on the parties (UCPR r 7.29(1)). Except with leave of the court, the solicitor must first file and serve on the client a notice of intention (Form 79) at least 28 days before filing where a trial date has been fixed, or at least 7 days before in any other case (r 7.29(2)). Unless leave was granted, the notice of ceasing to act must state the date the notice of intention was served (r 7.29(3)). Form 80 (version 4) is the approved notice. Notices of change and of intention may be served on the former client by post to the client's last known residential or business address (r 7.29(4)). The change takes effect for the court when the notice is filed, and for each person when they are served with the filed copy (r 7.30).
When you need it
- You are the solicitor on the record and have stopped acting, for example because instructions were withdrawn or fees are unpaid.
- The required notice of intention period (7 or 28 days) has passed, or the court has granted leave to file without it.
- If another solicitor is taking over, the new solicitor files a notice of change of solicitor (Form 77) instead.
How to fill it in
- 1
Court details and title
Copy the case details and party names.
- 2
Filing details
Enter the former legal representative (solicitor on record and firm), reference, contact name, telephone and email.
- 3
Notice of ceasing to act
State that the named solicitor of the firm has ceased to act for the former client and the client's role. Then choose either the dates the notice of intention was filed and served on the client, or the date leave was granted.
- 4
Client's last known details
Give the former client's last known residential or business address, email address and telephone number, so the court and other parties can contact the now self-represented party.
- 5
Signature
Signed by the former legal representative with capacity and date.
Filing, lodging and service
- File in the registry of the court where the proceedings are. The NSW Online Registry lists the ceasing to act forms among those lawyers file online, and reminds lawyers of the r 7.29 timeframes for the notice of intention (Form 79).
- Serve the filed notice on the parties and on the former client; service on the former client may be by post to their last known address (r 7.29(4)).
- The change only takes effect against each person once they are served with the filed copy (r 7.30).
Common mistakes
- Count the notice period from service of the Form 79 notice of intention on the client, and check whether a trial date has been fixed: that changes the period from 7 to 28 days.
- Until the notice is filed and served, you remain the solicitor on the record and your office remains the address for service.
- Tell the client in writing about upcoming dates and deadlines when you serve the notice.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much notice must a NSW solicitor give before ceasing to act?
At least 7 days after serving a notice of intention on the client, or 28 days if a trial date has been fixed, unless the court gives leave (UCPR r 7.29(2)).
How is the former client served?
The notices may be posted to the former client's last known residential or business address (UCPR r 7.29(4)).
Checked against the official sources on 26 October 2026
- Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW)
- UCPR Form 80 Notice of ceasing to act (v4)
- NSW Online Registry - Available forms
- UCPR approved forms list
General information about the form, not legal advice about your matter. Rules and forms change: if anything here differs from the court or agency's current instructions, theirs apply.
Field map
27 boxes on the Notice of ceasing to act (Form 80) fill from your matter. 2 are for you to complete: ticks, signatures and anything that needs judgement.
- Our Firm
- Firm email, Firm name, Firm phone
- Client
- Client email, Client full name(s), Client phone, Client postcode, Client state, Client street address, Client suburb
- Matter
- Matter / file reference
- Court
- Court file number
- Key Dates
- Current date
- Operator
- User First Name, User Full Name (first + surname)
Matter plans that use this form
More from New South Wales Courts
Affidavit (Form 40)
UCPR Form 40 is the general affidavit used in the NSW Supreme, District and Local Courts to put a person's evidence before the court. Version 8 includes the generative AI statement.
Affidavit of Service (Form 41)
UCPR Form 41 is the affidavit of service used in the NSW Supreme, District and Local Courts to prove a document was served. It states who served it, on whom, when, where and how.
Affidavit of applicant for administration (SCR Part 78 rule 12 (SCR Form 98)) (Form 119)
UCPR Form 119 (formerly SCR Form 98) is the affidavit for letters of administration in the Supreme Court of NSW. It is used where the deceased left no will.
Affidavit of applicant for administration with the will annexed (SCR Part 78 rule 12 (SCR Form 104)) (Form 120)
UCPR Form 120 (formerly SCR Form 104) is the affidavit for letters of administration with the will annexed in the Supreme Court of NSW. It is used where no executor is applying.
Affidavit of executor (SCR Part 78 rule 12 (SCR Form 97)) (Form 118)
UCPR Form 118 (formerly SCR Form 97) is the affidavit of executor supporting an application for probate in the Supreme Court of NSW. It identifies the will, deceased, beneficiaries, assets and liabilities.
Appearance (Form 6A)
UCPR Form 6A is the NSW notice of appearance a defendant files in Supreme, District or Local Court civil proceedings. It puts the defendant on the record with an address for service.