---
title: "Letter declining to act, with a warning that time limits may be running"
url: "https://ailawframework.com/precedents/personal-injury-and-compensation/letter-declining-to-act-time-limit-warning"
type: "precedent"
site: "AI Law Framework"
id: "a21-letter-declining-to-act-time-limit-warning"
area_id: "A21"
kind: "letter"
ai_level: "yellow"
version: 1
task_ids: ["A21-T1-R15", "A21-T1-R1"]
law_stated_as_at: "2026-10-23"
---

# Letter declining to act, with a warning that time limits may be running

> Short letter saying the firm will not act, why in the terms the lawyer has approved, and which time limits may still be running on the facts given.…

Canonical page: https://ailawframework.com/precedents/personal-injury-and-compensation/letter-declining-to-act-time-limit-warning  
Law stated as at: 2026-10-23

Site index for agents: https://ailawframework.com/llms.txt

Short letter saying the firm will not act, why in the terms the lawyer has approved, and which time limits may still be running on the facts given. It warns the person to see another lawyer quickly, and it is not a full investigation.

## Key facts

- Kind: Letter. A letter or email you adapt and send.
- Practice area: [Personal Injury & Compensation](https://ailawframework.com/precedents/personal-injury-and-compensation.md)
- Jurisdictions: Victoria, Queensland, New South Wales
- AI level: Yellow. You and the tool draft together, with you directing. You check every statement you rely on.
- Law stated as at: 2026-10-23
- Status: Maintained. Checked on 2026-10-23 against the 10 authorities it cites, for Victoria, Queensland and New South Wales.

## When to use it

Use when the firm has decided not to act and the enquiry involves an injury. Send it promptly. Do not use it to give a long opinion on prospects. If the firm is acting, use the limitation advice letter instead.

## Used for these tasks

- [Triage a new injury enquiry against scheme eligibility](https://ailawframework.com/practice/personal-injury-and-compensation/triage-a-new-injury-enquiry-against-scheme-eligibility.md)
- [Calculate limitation and pre-action notice deadlines from the injury facts](https://ailawframework.com/practice/personal-injury-and-compensation/calculate-limitation-and-pre-action-notice-deadlines-from-the-injury-fac.md)

## How AI may be used

The tool may assemble the decline letter from the reason and the clocks the lawyer has selected, and the lawyer checks both before the letter is sent.

**AI may:**

- Insert the lawyer's short reason for declining
- Keep only the time-limit sentences the lawyer has marked as possibly relevant
- List the documents to be returned

**AI must not:**

- Must not add a prospects opinion the lawyer has not approved
- Must not say a claim is out of time
- Must not omit a time-limit warning where the intake shows an injury

**The lawyer checks:**

- The reason for declining is accurate and does not disclose another client's confidential information (ASCR r 9)
- Every time limit in the letter matches the current section, and inapplicable states are deleted
- The letter is sent promptly, and original documents are returned

## Authorities

- [Limitation of Actions Act 1958 (Vic) ss 27D and 27E](https://classic.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/vic/consol_act/loaa1958226/s27d.html)
- [Limitation of Actions Act 1974 (Qld) ss 11 and 11A](https://classic.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/qld/consol_act/loaa1974226/s11.html)
- [Limitation Act 1969 (NSW) s 50C](https://classic.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/nsw/consol_act/la1969133/s50c.html)
- [Personal Injuries Proceedings Act 2002 (Qld) s 9(3)](https://classic.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/qld/consol_act/pipa2002314/s9.html)
- [Motor Accident Insurance Act 1994 (Qld) s 37(2) and (3)](https://www.legislation.qld.gov.au/view/whole/html/inforce/current/act-1994-009#sec.37)
- [Transport Accident Act 1986 (Vic) s 68](https://classic.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/vic/consol_act/taa1986204/s68.html)
- [Motor Accident Injuries Act 2017 (NSW) s 6.13](https://classic.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/nsw/consol_act/maia2017245/s6.13.html)
- [Motor Accident Injuries Act 2017 (NSW) s 6.14](https://classic.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/nsw/consol_act/maia2017245/s6.14.html)
- [Workers' Compensation and Rehabilitation Act 2003 (Qld) s 131](https://classic.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/qld/consol_act/wcara2003400/s131.html)
- [Workplace Injury Management and Workers Compensation Act 1998 (NSW) s 261](https://classic.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/nsw/consol_act/wimawca1998540/s261.html)

## Full text and drafting notes

The full text and the drafting notes are not part of this public page. Signed-in firm accounts can read them at https://ailawframework.com/precedents/personal-injury-and-compensation/letter-declining-to-act-time-limit-warning and through the signed-in MCP connector https://ailawframework.com/mcp/firm.

*Practice guidance for planning and review. Confirm current primary sources and the requirements of the actual matter. This is general information, not legal advice.*