The Judge Didn't Decide at the Hearing: What Does "Under Submission" Mean?

What "under submission" means

A judge who takes a matter under submission is saying that the hearing is finished, the evidence and arguments are in, and the decision will come later instead of from the bench that day. The term varies by court. You may hear "under advisement," "taken under consideration," or simply "the court will issue a written ruling."

It does not mean you won or lost, and it is not a sign that the judge favored one side. It only means the judge wants more time before deciding.

Why a judge might wait to rule

Judges take matters under submission for many ordinary reasons. The judge may want to reread the filings, review exhibits or testimony, check the law that applies, or work through financial figures carefully. Crowded court calendars also play a part, since there may not be enough time in the hearing to explain a full decision.

Issues like custody, parenting time, and support can have many moving parts. A judge taking extra time is often a sign the decision is being considered carefully, not a sign that something went wrong.

How long it takes and how you find out

How long a judge has to rule varies by state and sometimes by court, and so does the way the decision is delivered. Some courts mail the ruling, some post it to an online case portal, and some ask one side to prepare a written order for the judge to sign. Check your state's guide or ask the court clerk how rulings are delivered in your court.

Make sure the court has your current mailing address and any other contact information it uses, and keep an eye on your case file or online docket if your court offers one. If a long time passes with no word, the clerk's office can usually tell you whether a ruling has been entered. The clerk can explain procedure but cannot give legal advice or tell you how the judge will decide.

What to do while you wait

In general, any orders already in place stay in effect until the judge issues a new one, so keep following your current custody, visitation, and support orders. If no orders exist yet, what applies in the meantime varies by state, so check your state's guide.

Do not try to contact the judge directly about the case or send in new evidence or arguments unless the court asked for them. Courts generally do not allow one side to communicate with the judge without the other side being included. If something urgent changes, such as a safety concern, courts have separate procedures for emergency requests, and those procedures vary by state.

When the ruling arrives, read it closely and note the date. Any deadline to ask the court to reconsider or to appeal is set by state rules and can be short. This page is general information, not legal advice, and Onbello is not a law firm. If you have questions about your specific situation, consider speaking with a licensed attorney in your state.