What is notice plan?

A notice plan is the court-approved method for informing class members that a case exists, has settled, or has reached another milestone requiring their awareness, and must be 'the best notice practicable under the circumstances' under Federal Rule 23. Modern plans typically combine direct mail or email with digital advertising and a settlement website to reach members whose contact information is unknown.

Courts require an independent notice expert or the settlement administrator to certify that a notice plan reached a specified percentage of the class — often targeting 70% to 90% reach — before granting final approval, since inadequate notice can be grounds to challenge a settlement later. This is why unfamiliar mail, email, or even television and social media ads referencing a class action are not automatically scams; legitimate notice campaigns increasingly use paid digital advertising precisely because mailing addresses for large modern classes are often unreliable.

Last reviewed 2026-08-22.