Motion for Continuance Template, Free Download 2026

Defendant/Plaintiff [____________] respectfully moves this Court, pursuant to [Rule ___] of the [Federal/State] Rules of Civil Procedure and the Court's inherent authority to manage its docket, for a continuance of the [trial / hearing / deposition / pretrial conference] currently scheduled for [____________]. Good cause exists for the requested continuance for the reasons set forth herein. This Motion is supported by the accompanying Memorandum of Law, the Declaration of [____________], and all pleadings and papers of record.

Counsel for the moving party [was retained / was recently substituted] on [____________] and requires additional time to review the full record, conduct necessary factual investigation, retain and prepare expert witnesses, and complete outstanding discovery. The complexity of the claims and volume of documentary evidence in this matter are such that the [trial / hearing] cannot be adequately prepared within the current schedule without substantial prejudice to the moving party's ability to present its case. The interests of justice and due process require that counsel be afforded a reasonable opportunity to prepare.

The moving party will suffer substantial and irreparable prejudice if the continuance is denied. Specifically: (a) [key witness] is unavailable on the scheduled date due to [medical circumstances / pre-existing international travel / military deployment / other unavoidable conflict], and his or her testimony is indispensable to the moving party's case; (b) critical documentary evidence subpoenaed from [third party] has not yet been produced, and the return date on the outstanding subpoena is [____________]; and (c) the moving party's designated expert requires additional time to complete an analysis essential to rebutting [opposing party's] expert report served on [____________].

A continuance will not materially prejudice the opposing party. This action has been pending for [____________] months, and the continuance request is for a period of only [____________] days/weeks. The opposing party will have ample time to complete its own trial preparations. By contrast, denial of the continuance would effectively foreclose the moving party's ability to present a full and fair defense/case, implicating fundamental due process concerns under the [Fifth/Fourteenth] Amendment.

This is the [first / second] request for a continuance by the moving party. [No prior continuances have been granted in this matter / The Court previously granted a continuance of [____] days on [____________] at the request of [____________] for the reason of [____________].] The moving party has not engaged in dilatory tactics and has prosecuted/defended this action diligently. The current request is made in good faith and not for purposes of delay, harassment, or tactical advantage.

The moving party proposes the following revised schedule: (a) completion of all fact discovery by [____________]; (b) designation of expert witnesses and service of expert reports by [____________]; (c) completion of expert depositions by [____________]; (d) filing of dispositive motions by [____________]; (e) pretrial conference on [____________]; and (f) trial commencing on [____________] or at the Court's earliest convenience thereafter. The proposed schedule provides sufficient time for both parties to complete trial preparations while minimizing delay to the ultimate resolution of this action.

WHEREFORE, the moving party respectfully requests that this Court: (a) grant this Motion for Continuance; (b) vacate the current [trial / hearing / conference] date of [____________]; (c) reset the [trial / hearing / conference] to [____________] or to a date convenient for the Court's calendar; and (d) enter the revised pretrial schedule proposed herein or such other schedule as the Court deems appropriate. A proposed Order granting this Motion is submitted herewith.