Class notice
Class notice is the official message telling people they may be part of a class action, what it means for them and what they can do.
Also called: settlement notice, notice of class action settlement, legal notice, court-approved notice
Class notice is the official message telling people they may be part of a class action, what it means for them and what they can do.
What it means
Class notice is the court-approved message that tells people they may be part of a class action or a settlement. It can arrive as an email, a postcard or letter, a text, an online ad, a newspaper notice, or a mix. A real notice is authorized by a court. It is not an ad or a sales pitch from a lawyer.
Federal Rule 23 sets the standard. In most class actions seeking money, the court must order the best notice that is practical, including individual notice to members who can be found with reasonable effort. It can go by mail, electronic means or other appropriate means. The notice must be written in plain, easy language. It has to say what the case is about, who is in the class and what the class claims. It also has to say that you may hire your own lawyer, that you can ask to be excluded and how and when to do so, and that a class judgment binds members who stay in.
When there is a proposed settlement, notice also explains the deal and your choices: claim, opt out, object or do nothing.
What it means for you
Find the dates first, because they decide your options. Then check whether you fit the class description and what you would need to claim. A notice is not a bill, and it never asks you to pay. Getting one does not mean you will be paid, since many settlements still require a claim form. If a message looks off, do not click its link. Search for the case name, find the settlement website yourself, and compare it with the notice.
Example
Say you get an email titled "Notice of Class Action Settlement" about a company you once bought from. It says who is covered, what the settlement offers, the claim deadline, the opt-out deadline and a link to the settlement website. A long-form version on the website gives the full details. You check that you fit the class description, read the key dates, and decide whether to file a claim.
FAQ
Not getting a notice does not mean you are outside the class. Notices go to the contact details a company has on file, which can be out of date. Read the class definition on the settlement website and file if you fit, using the no-notice option if the form has one.
Real notices are court approved, name the case and the administrator, and never ask you to pay. To check one, find the settlement website yourself instead of using a link in the message. The FTC gives the same advice for its refund emails: type the address in rather than clicking.
Related terms
- Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23 and committee notes (Cornell LII)
- Federal Judicial Center, Judges' Class Action Notice and Claims Process Checklist and Plain Language Guide (2010)
- FTC, Refund Programs: Frequently Asked Questions
Updated Oct 18, 2026. Plain-English definitions for general information — not legal or tax advice.