return date

The return date is the date that an application notice is listed to be heard by a court. The court will expect both parties or their legal representatives to be in attendance. In the High Court, the application may be in the judges’ list or the masters’ list, depending on the relative importance of the legal issues to be dealt with and determined by the court on the particular occasion.

Usage: The legal representatives negotiated a settlement of the disputes on the return date of the application.

Related Words: litigation; application notice; consent order; evidence in support; judges; masters.