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Limitation Act 1985
31Notice to proceed
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31 Notice to proceed
(1) If—
(a) a person has a cause of action in relation to which he or she is
under a disability other than a disability arising from his or her
minority; and
Part 3 Postponement of bar
Division 3.1 General
Section 31
page 28 Limitation Act 1985
Effective: 26/11/25
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Authorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au
(b) a guardian has been appointed in relation to that person or the
property of that person;
a person against whom the cause of action lies may give to the
guardian a notice to proceed in accordance with this section.
(2) A notice to proceed under subsection (1) shall—
(a) be in writing; and
(b) be addressed to the guardian concerned; and
(c) show the name of the person under a disability; and
(d) state the circumstances out of which the cause of action may
arise or may be claimed to arise with the particularity that is
necessary to enable the guardian to investigate the question
whether the person under a disability has the cause of action;
and
(e) give warning that a cause of action arising out of the
circumstances stated in the notice is liable to be barred by this
Act; and
(f) be signed by the person giving the notice.
(3) Minor deviations from the requirements of subsection (2), not
affecting the substance nor likely to mislead, do not invalidate a
notice to proceed.
(4) If a notice to proceed is served under subsection (1), the person under
the disability referred to in that subsection shall be taken, for this Act,
to cease to be under a disability on the day when the notice is so
served.
(5) A notice to proceed under this section is not a confirmation for
section 32 and is not an admission for any purpose by the person
giving the notice.
(6) A notice to proceed to be given to a guardian may be given by—
(a) delivering the notice to proceed to the guardian personally; or
Postponement of bar Part 3
General Division 3.1
Section 32
R28
26/11/25
Limitation Act 1985
Effective: 26/11/25
page 29
Authorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au
(b) leaving the notice to proceed at the usual or last-known place of
business or residence of the guardian; or
(c) posting the notice to proceed by certified mail to the guardian at
the usual or last-known place of business or residence of the
guardian.
(7) In this section:
guardian means a guardian or manager under the Guardianship and
Management of Property Act 1991.