Receiving a summons or signing a promise to appear: What happens next?

Receiving a summons or signing a promise to appear is a stressful moment that raises many questions about what comes next. What do these documents mean? What are your obligations? And most importantly, how can you prepare for your court appearance calmly and confidently? Here’s what you need to know to navigate this judicial process and protect your rights from the start.

What is a summons or a promise to appear?

Summons: A summons is an official order requiring you to appear in court on a specific date to respond to a charge. Unlike an immediate arrest, it allows you the freedom to voluntarily present yourself before the court without being detained while awaiting your hearing.
Promise to appear: A promise to appear is a commitment you sign after an arrest, in which you agree to appear at a later date to face a charge. It is often accompanied by conditions, such as a no-contact order with certain individuals or an obligation to remain within a specific geographic area.

From this point on, you must strictly comply with all imposed conditions, appear in court on the scheduled date, and avoid any new infractions — every misstep can seriously complicate your case.

How to prepare for your court appearance?

The court appearance is a crucial step in the judicial process. It’s the moment when you will be formally charged and when the first steps of your defense can be put in place. To prepare effectively:

Contact a lawyer as soon as possible: It’s essential to have proper legal representation from the very beginning. A lawyer will explain the charges, review the evidence, and discuss your options.
Gather relevant information: If you have documents or evidence that could help contest the charges — such as witness statements or proof that you’ve respected the conditions — share them with your lawyer.
Comply with all conditions: It’s critical to follow all the conditions set out in your promise to appear to avoid further infractions or complications in your case.

What our team can do for you

From the moment you receive a summons or sign a promise to appear, we can:

Analyze the documents and charges
Answer your questions and clarify your obligations
Represent you from your first court appearance
Advocate for reduced conditions or even a release without additional restrictions
Demonstrate to the court that you are taking the situation seriously — which can make a significant difference moving forward

Our goal: to guide you clearly, protect you from the outset, and put all the odds in your favor.

Our Recent Successes

Over the years, Me Gagnon and his team have achieved remarkable results in defending against drunk driving charges. Here are some examples of our recent successes:

Assault and Acquittal

In an assault case, Me Gagnon and his team established an alibi defence by interviewing witnesses and gathering video footage and text messages. This work allowed them to reconstruct the events and demonstrate, through independent evidence, that the client could not have been at the scene at the time of the alleged incident. In light of this evidence, the Crown consented to the client's acquittal, allowing him to avoid a criminal conviction.

Impaired Driving and Withdrawal of Charges

In an impaired driving case, Me Gagnon reviewed the police intervention and demonstrated that his client's right to counsel had been violated. Following the client's arrest at a roadside checkpoint, the police did not prioritize transporting him to the station, delaying the exercise of his right to consult a lawyer. The defence's arguments led to the withdrawal of the charges because of this violation of his constitutional rights. As a result, the client avoided a criminal conviction in this case.

Theft and Diversion

Following two theft charges, Me Gagnon and his team directed their client to therapeutic resources suited to his circumstances. Beyond the legal defence, this support contributed to a remarkable turnaround in the client's life. The defence documented the steps the client had taken and presented his progress to the Crown. In light of these results, the Crown agreed to have the case handled through a diversion program, favouring an approach focused on rehabilitation.

Robbery and Alternative Measures

In a robbery case, Me Gagnon and his team demonstrated that post-traumatic stress disorder related to the client's past experiences had affected his behaviour during the incident. By highlighting these factors, the defence helped the Crown better understand the circumstances surrounding the incident and the client's personal situation. These efforts led to the charge being reduced from robbery to theft and the case being handled through the alternative measures program, an outcome suited to the client's circumstances.

Sexual Assault and Acquittal

In a sexual assault case, the investigative efforts of Me Gagnon and his team led to the identification and location of a key defence witness. The witness's testimony demonstrated that the events described could not have occurred in the alleged circumstances. Presented at trial, this evidence provided concrete support for the client's defence. The client was acquitted, avoiding a criminal conviction.

Domestic Harassment and Acquittal Without Trial

In a domestic harassment case, Me Gagnon and his team reviewed emails and text messages and interviewed witnesses to the incident. This work allowed them to present evidence favourable to the defence to the Crown and secure a resolution without trial. The Crown agreed to a peace bond and requested the client's acquittal, allowing him to avoid a criminal conviction.

Care or Control of a Vehicle and Acquittal

In a case involving the care or control of a vehicle while impaired, the client had fallen asleep in his vehicle while waiting for a taxi on a particularly cold winter evening during the holiday season. Me Gagnon demonstrated that the circumstances presented no realistic risk of the vehicle being set in motion. The client was acquitted, avoiding both a criminal conviction and the driving prohibition that would have followed.

Repeated Speeding Violations and Closure of the CTQ Case

In a case referred to the Commission des transports du Québec (CTQ) because of repeated speeding violations, Me Gagnon and his team helped their client implement concrete corrective measures. A driver monitoring system, coupled with a disciplinary policy, was introduced, and the heavy vehicle fleet was reduced. These steps addressed the concerns raised and led to the case being closed without intervention by the Commission, allowing the client to continue operating.

Dismissal of Charges Due to Procedural Error

Through a meticulous analysis of the case, we demonstrated that our client's constitutional rights were violated during the police intervention, leading to the dismissal of the charges.

Complete Acquittal

In a complex case, our team proved that the equipment used to measure blood alcohol levels was possibly defective, resulting in our client's total acquittal.

Sentence Reduction

In several cases, we have succeeded in obtaining significant sentence reductions by demonstrating errors in breathalyzer tests or presenting convincing mitigating circumstances.

These successes reflect our commitment to vigorously defending our clients' rights and exploring all possible avenues to achieve the best outcome.

Advantages of Working with Us