notice

Notice is information or warning conveyed to a person or group, intended to inform, warn, or require a response. Notices can be oral, written, or electronic and may range from casual announcements to legally binding documents. The term derives from Latin notitia, meaning knowledge.

In the legal and administrative spheres, a notice is a formal document that begins a process or imposes obligations. Examples include notices of termination, notices to quit, notices of breach, and public notices that inform the community of government actions or regulatory changes. Public notices are commonly posted in newspapers, on government portals, or at official premises.

Contractual and employment contexts often rely on notices and notice periods. A notice period is the interval between giving notice and the termination of a contract. The length is typically stipulated in law, contract, or policy. Failure to observe required notice can have legal consequences or affect eligibility for certain rights.

Legal doctrine distinguishes actual notice, which is direct knowledge of information, from constructive notice, where knowledge is presumed due to access to information such as records or publications. Notices may also be delivered by service of process or other legally recognized means.

In everyday use, notices alert people to safety information, policy changes, meetings, deadlines, or events. The concept underpins compliance, governance, and communication in organizations, institutions, and governments.