Under Section 227 of the Code of Civil Procedure, a German court may cancel or move a hearing date only aus erheblichen Gründen, for substantial reasons. The law then lists what does not count. A party’s absence does not count, unless the court believes the party was prevented without fault. Poor preparation does not count, unless it is sufficiently excused. The third item is das Einvernehmen der Parteien allein, the agreement of the parties alone. Even when both sides want a new date, that is not a reason. If the judge asks, the reasons must be substantiated. The same section contains a summer rule. As a rule, a hearing set between 1 July and 31 August must be moved if a party asks within one week of receiving the summons, although the law makes exceptions.