# The Criminal Procedure Rules 2025, Rule 36.3: Power to vary requirements

Extent: E+W

The court or the Registrar may—
(a) shorten a time limit or extend it (even after it has expired) unless that is inconsistent with other legislation;
(b) allow a party to vary any notice that that party has served;
(c) direct that a notice or application be served on any person; and
(d) allow a notice or application to be in a different form, or presented orally.
[Note. The time limit for serving an appeal notice—
(a) under section 18 of the Criminal Appeal Act 1968 on an appeal against conviction or sentence, and
(b) under section 18A of that Act on an appeal against a finding of contempt of court
may be extended but not shortened: see rule 39.2.
The time limit for serving an application for permission to refer a sentencing case under section 36 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 may be neither extended nor shortened: see rule 41.2(4).
The time limits in rule 43.2 for applying to the Court of Appeal for permission to appeal or refer a case to the Supreme Court may be extended or shortened only as explained in the note to that rule.]

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2025/909/rule/36.3 (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/criminal-procedure-rules-2025/rule-36.3
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.