California Case Deadlines

California Case Deadlines

This skill computes deadlines in California civil cases — when to answer, file or respond to motions, serve discovery, claim exemptions, and the statutes of limitations that bound new actions.

NOT LEGAL ADVICE. Verify every deadline against the current rule and statute. The legislature can amend the Code of Civil Procedure without notice.

How time is computed in California

Code Civ. Proc., § 12 — the fundamental rule

• Exclude the first day (day of the act, event, or default triggering the period).
• Include the last day of the period.
• If the last day is a holiday or weekend: the period extends to the next court day (Code Civ. Proc., § 12a).

Code Civ. Proc., § 12a — holiday/weekend extension

If the last day for filing or service falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or a judicial holiday, the period extends to the next day that is not a Saturday, Sunday, or holiday.

Court days vs. calendar days

Many California deadlines are measured in court days (also called "judicial days"). A court day is any day that the court is open for business — Monday through Friday excluding judicial holidays. Other deadlines are measured in calendar days (including weekends and holidays, with extension only if the last day falls on a non-court day).

Confirm whether a specific deadline uses court days or calendar days by reading the governing statute or rule.

Code Civ. Proc., § 12c — court day defined

A "court day" is a day that the court is open for business, i.e., Monday through Friday excluding judicial holidays listed in Govt. Code § 6700.

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California judicial holidays (Govt. Code § 6700)

Holiday	Date
New Year's Day	January 1
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day	3rd Monday of January
Presidents' Day	3rd Monday of February
Cesar Chavez Day	March 31
Memorial Day	Last Monday of May
Juneteenth	June 19
Independence Day	July 4
Labor Day	1st Monday of September
Native American Day	4th Friday of September
Veterans Day	November 11
Thanksgiving Day	4th Thursday of November
Day after Thanksgiving	4th Friday of November (Govt. Code § 6700(a)(14))
Christmas Day	December 25

Observed-day rule: when a holiday falls on a Saturday, courts observe it on the preceding Friday; when it falls on a Sunday, courts observe it on the following Monday. Verify per-county closures — some courts observe additional closures.

Note — Cesar Chavez Day (March 31): while it is a state employee holiday under Govt. Code § 6700, many superior courts do not close on Cesar Chavez Day. Verify whether the specific court will be open before relying on this date as a holiday.

Note — Lincoln's Birthday (Feb. 12): historically observed; largely phased out. Do not assume courts close on Feb. 12.

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Service additions

Code Civ. Proc., § 1013 — mail service

When service is by mail, additional time is added to any period requiring response or act:

Distance	Additional days
Within California	5 calendar days
Outside California, within U.S.	10 calendar days
Outside U.S.	20 calendar days

The 5-day addition is for the period within which the served party must perform an act. It applies only when the triggering act was service by mail; it does NOT apply when the triggering act was filing or a court order.

Code Civ. Proc., § 1010.6 — electronic service

When service is by electronic means (e-service through an e- filing system or by email/fax):

• Add 2 court days to any response period (Code Civ. Proc., § 1010.6(a)(3)(B)).
• Note: mandatory e-filing systems in LASC and many other counties deliver e-service at the time of filing; the 2-court- day addition still applies to the opposing party's response period.

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Deterministic computation

Use the bundled scripts/case-calendar.py for date arithmetic:

# Compute the answer deadline — 30 calendar days from service
# on 2025-04-15
python3 plugins/ca-court-docs/scripts/case-calendar.py \
  --from 2025-04-15 --rule answer-due

# Compute a custom deadline — 16 court days from a given date
python3 plugins/ca-court-docs/scripts/case-calendar.py \
  --from 2025-04-15 --days 16 --mode court

# List all known rules
python3 plugins/ca-court-docs/scripts/case-calendar.py --rules

The script encodes Code Civ. Proc., §§ 12, 12a, 1013, 1010.6 and Govt. Code § 6700 holidays.

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Deadlines by procedural posture

Initial response (defendant)

Trigger	Deadline	Authority
Personal service (in California)	30 calendar days from date of service	Code Civ. Proc., § 412.20(a)(3)
Service by mail within California (with acknowledgment)	30 days from signing of acknowledgment	§ 415.30(c)
Service by publication	30 days from date of completion of publication	§ 415.50
Substituted service (deliver + mail)	30 days from the date service was deemed complete (10 days after mailing date)	§ 415.20(b); § 415.20(c)
Defendant served outside California	40 calendar days	§ 412.20(a)(4)
Demurrer overruled	10 days after service of the ruling	§ 430.30(c)

Motion practice — timing

Event	Timing	Authority
Motion notice minimum	16 court days before hearing	Code Civ. Proc., § 1005(b)
Opposition deadline	9 court days before hearing	§ 1005(b)
Reply deadline	5 court days before hearing	§ 1005(b)
Service of motion (adds to above)	Mail: +5 calendar days; e-service: +2 court days	§§ 1013, 1010.6
Meet-and-confer before demurrer	At least 5 days before demurrer deadline	§ 430.41(a)(3)
Meet-and-confer before motion to strike	At least 5 days before MTS deadline	§ 435.5(a)(3)

Practical note on motion notice: if the motion is served by mail (within California), the 16-court-day notice period is extended by 5 calendar days under § 1013, making the minimum notice effectively 16 court days + 5 calendar days.

Case Management Conference (CMC)

Event	Timing	Authority
CMC statement due	15 calendar days before the CMC	Cal. Rules of Court, rule 3.725
CMC scheduling	Typically within 180 days of filing of complaint	CRC 3.722

Discovery

Event	Timing	Authority
Interrogatory response	30 days after service; or 45 if served with complaint	Code Civ. Proc., § 2030.260(a)
RFP response	30 days after service; or 45 if served with complaint	§ 2031.260(a)
RFA response	30 days after service; or 45 if served with complaint	§ 2033.250(a)
Deposition notice — party	At least 10 days	§ 2025.270(a)
Deposition notice — non-party (subpoena)	At least 15 days	§ 2020.410(c)
Motion to compel further responses (after timely response)	45 days after service of response	§ 2030.300(c); § 2031.310(c)
Discovery cutoff before trial	30 days before trial	§ 2024.020(a)
Discovery motion cutoff	15 days before trial	§ 2024.020(a)
Expert exchange	50 days before trial (simultaneous) OR per court order	§ 2034.230

Summary judgment

Event	Timing	Authority
MSJ/MSA notice	75 days before hearing date	Code Civ. Proc., § 437c(a)(2)
MSJ/MSA opposition	14 days before hearing	§ 437c(b)(2)
MSJ/MSA reply	5 days before hearing	§ 437c(b)(4)
MSJ/MSA filing cutoff	Must be heard at least 30 days before trial (unless court allows later)	§ 437c(a)(3)

Mail/e-service additions apply: if the MSJ is served by mail, add 5 calendar days to the 75-day notice period. If served by e- service, add 2 court days.

Post-judgment

Event	Timing	Authority
Motion to vacate default (§ 473 discretionary)	Within 6 months of entry of order/judgment	Code Civ. Proc., § 473(b)
Motion to vacate default (§ 473 mandatory, attorney fault)	Within 6 months of entry	§ 473(b)
Motion to vacate void judgment (§ 473(d))	No time limit	§ 473(d)
Motion for new trial	Within 15 days of service of notice of entry of judgment	§ 659
Motion to vacate judgment after non-jury trial (§ 663)	Within 15 days of service of notice of entry	§ 663a
Notice of appeal (limited civil)	30 days from service of notice of entry of judgment	CRC 8.822
Notice of appeal (unlimited civil)	60 days from service of notice of entry of judgment	CRC 8.104(a)(1)
Earnings withholding order — claim of exemption	10 days from service of the order on employer	Code Civ. Proc., § 706.104
Bank levy — claim of exemption	10 days from service of notice of levy	§ 703.520
Acknowledgment of satisfaction — after demand	15 days from written demand	§ 724.050(d)
Judgment renewal	Before original 10-year period expires	§ 683.130
Statement of attorney fees (after judgment)	Per court order; typically 10 days	CRC 3.1702

Arbitration

Event	Timing	Authority
Mandatory settlement conference / arbitration (LASC)	Per court order	Local rules
Request for de novo trial after mandatory arbitration	30 days from notice of arbitration award	Code Civ. Proc., § 1141.20

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Statutes of limitations — California

Contract and debt

Claim type	SOL	Authority
Written contract	4 years	Code Civ. Proc., § 337(a)
Open book account / credit card	4 years (written contract theory)	§ 337(a)
Oral contract	2 years	§ 339(1)
Account stated	4 years	§ 337(b)
Breach of warranty	4 years	Commercial Code, § 2725

Tort

Claim type	SOL	Authority
Personal injury	2 years	Code Civ. Proc., § 335.1
Fraud / mistake	3 years from discovery	§ 338(d)
Defamation	1 year	§ 340(c)

Judgments

Event	Limit	Authority
Judgment lifespan	10 years from entry	§ 683.020
Judgment renewal	Each renewal extends 10 years	§§ 683.110–683.220

Consumer protection

Claim type	SOL	Authority
Rosenthal FDCPA (Cal.)	1 year from violation	Cal. Civ. Code, § 1788.30(f)
FDCPA federal	1 year from violation	15 U.S.C. § 1692k(d)
FCRA	2 years from discovery; 5-year repose	15 U.S.C. § 1681p
TILA	1 year from violation (rescission: 3 years)	15 U.S.C. § 1640(e); § 1635(f)
Unfair Competition Law (Bus. & Prof. Code § 17200)	4 years	Bus. & Prof. Code, § 17208
Consumer Legal Remedies Act	3 years	Civil Code, § 1783

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Computing examples

Example 1: Answer to complaint

Defendant personally served on Wednesday, April 15, 2025.

Code Civ. Proc., § 412.20(a)(3) — 30 calendar days.

Exclude April 15 (day of service). Start counting April 16. 30 days → May 15, 2025 (Thursday). May 15 is a court day.

Answer due May 15, 2025.

Example 2: Opposition to motion

Motion served by mail on Friday, April 25, 2025. The hearing is set for Monday, May 19, 2025.

§ 1005(b) — opposition due 9 court days before hearing.

9 court days before May 19 = count back: May 18 (Sun — skip), May 17 (Sat — skip), May 16 (1), May 15 (2), May 14 (3), May 13 (4), May 12 (5), May 9 (6), May 8 (7), May 7 (8), May 6 (9) = May 6, 2025.

Service was by mail (+5 calendar days). Does the mail extension apply to the opposition deadline? No — the 5-day mail addition applies to the time to respond to a served document, not to the opposition deadline which is keyed to the hearing date. The opposition remains due May 6.

Opposition due May 6, 2025.

Example 3: Summary judgment timeline

Trial date: Monday, September 8, 2025.

MSJ notice must be at least 75 days before the hearing. The last possible hearing date that is at least 30 days before trial (September 8): on or before August 9, 2025.

Work backward from August 9: 75 days earlier = May 26, 2025 (Memorial Day — court holiday). Extend to next court day: May 27, 2025.

MSJ must be filed and served no later than May 27, 2025 for a hearing on August 9.

Opposition due 14 days before August 9 = July 26, 2025. Reply due 5 days before August 9 = August 4, 2025.

Example 4: Notice of appeal (unlimited civil)

Judgment entered on the docket; notice of entry of judgment served on Friday, April 18, 2025.

CRC 8.104(a)(1) — 60 days from service of notice of entry.

60 days from April 18 = June 17, 2025 (Tuesday).

Notice of appeal due June 17, 2025.

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Common deadline-computation mistakes

Mistake	Consequence
Including the day of service	Off-by-one; early deadline
Forgetting the 5-day mail addition for § 1013	Under-served opposition period
Confusing court days and calendar days	Wrong deadline (often shorter than actual)
Forgetting to extend for the holiday or weekend on the last day	Missed deadline
Confusing the 16-court-day motion notice rule with calendar days	Improperly noticed motion
Missing Cesar Chavez Day (March 31) — checking if court is open	Varies by court; verify
Missing the Day after Thanksgiving (some practitioners skip it)	Off by one day
Using 30-day summary judgment notice instead of 75-day California notice	Invalid MSJ; court may take it off calendar

When in doubt, file early

Late filings in California civil cases can be fatal — motions to vacate, notices of appeal, and exemption claims all have strict deadlines. Build a 5–7 day buffer whenever possible.

Cross-references

• scripts/case-calendar.py — deterministic date arithmetic
• ca-law-references/references/civil-rules.md — CCP §§ 12, 12a, 1005, 1013, 1010.6 verbatim
• ca-law-references/references/ca-statutes-debt/ — SOL references
• ca-first-30-days — initial response workflow
• ca-discovery — discovery timeline

NOT LEGAL ADVICE. Generated content is a drafting aid; verify against current rules and case law before filing.