Notice of removal of solicitor (Form 78)
UCPR Form 78 is the NSW notice a party files after ending their solicitor's authority to act, when no new solicitor is coming on the record.
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 78
- Version
- v6574ab3e
- Last verified
- 2 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 78 is for
A party who terminates the authority of their solicitor must file a notice of the termination and serve a copy on all other active parties and, if practicable, on the former solicitor (Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW) r 7.27). The filing and service may be done by the former solicitor. Form 78 is the approved notice. Rule 7.27 does not apply to a change from one solicitor to another, which is done by notice of change of solicitor under r 7.26 (Form 77), and a solicitor who wants to stop acting uses the notice of intention to cease to act (Form 79) and notice of ceasing to act (Form 80).
When you need it
- You have ended your solicitor's authority to act for you in current proceedings.
- You are going to act for yourself (or a company will act by an authorised officer) rather than appoint a new solicitor straight away.
- Not for changing to a new solicitor (Form 77) or for a solicitor ceasing to act (Forms 79 and 80).
How to fill it in
- 1
Court details and title
Copy the court, registry, case number and party names from the proceedings.
- 2
The notice
Insert your name and role (for example plaintiff), then the name of the solicitor and firm whose authority you have terminated.
- 3
Signature
Sign and state your capacity, such as the party or an authorised officer of a company party, with the date.
- 4
Further details about the filing party
Give your name and address, any frequent user identifier, the name and capacity of any authorised officer, and your address for service with telephone and email. The address for service must be in NSW unless an exception in UCPR r 4.5(3) applies.
Filing, lodging and service
- File the notice in the court where the proceedings are.
- Serve a copy of the filed notice on every other active party and, if practicable, on the former solicitor (r 7.27).
- The former solicitor may file and serve the notice for you (r 7.27(3)).
Common mistakes
- Give an address for service you will actually check. Once the solicitor is off the record, documents in the case will come to you there.
- If you appoint a solicitor later, r 7.28 requires you to file and serve notice of the appointment (Form 77).
- Ask your former solicitor for your file and any upcoming dates so nothing is missed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Form 77 and Form 78 in NSW?
Form 77 is used to change from one solicitor to another, or for a self-represented party to appoint a solicitor. Form 78 is used when a party ends their solicitor's authority to act and no new solicitor is coming on the record.
Who has to be served with a notice of removal of solicitor?
All other active parties and, if practicable, the former solicitor (UCPR r 7.27).
Checked against the official sources on 26 October 2026
- NSW UCPR Form 78 - Notice of removal of solicitor
- Judicial Commission of NSW Civil Trials Bench Book - Parties and representation (removal of solicitor)
- NSW Online Registry - available forms (solicitor notices)
- Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW) rr 4.5, 7.26, 7.27, 7.28
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
23 boxes on the Notice of removal of solicitor (Form 78) fill from your matter. 5 are for you to complete: ticks, signatures and anything that needs judgement.
- Our Firm
- Firm name
- Client
- Client email, Client full name(s), Client phone, Client postcode, Client state, Client street address, Client suburb
- Matter
- Matter / file reference
- Operator
- Operator signature (image), User First Name
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