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federal-frcp.md

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Federal Rules of Civil Procedure — Deadline Reference

This reference contains the key FRCP rules relevant to computing litigation deadlines in federal court. Use this when the user specifies a federal jurisdiction.

Important: These rules reflect federal law as of early 2026. The skill's verification step should confirm these remain current.

Table of Contents

  1. Rule 6 — Computing Time
  2. Rule 26 — Disclosure and Discovery Framework
  3. Rule 33 — Interrogatories
  4. Rule 34 — Requests for Production
  5. Rule 36 — Requests for Admission
  6. Rule 30 — Depositions
  7. Rule 56 — Summary Judgment
  8. Expert Witness Deadlines
  9. Federal Holidays

Rule 6 — Computing Time {#rule-6}

Core Counting Method (Rule 6(a)(1))

  • Exclude the trigger day.
  • Count every day, including intermediate Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays.
  • If the last day is a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday: the period continues to run until the end of the next day that is not a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday.

Key Difference from Colorado

The federal rules count ALL days for ALL time periods. There is no "less than 11 days" exclusion of weekends like in Colorado.

Service Method Adjustments (Rule 6(d))

  • Electronic service: Add 3 days to the response period.
  • Mail service: Add 3 days to the response period.
  • Note: The 3-day addition for e-service is a difference from Colorado, where e-service adds 0 days.

Rule 26 — Disclosure and Discovery Framework {#rule-26}

Initial Disclosures (Rule 26(a)(1))

  • Due within 14 days after the Rule 26(f) conference (unless a different time is set by stipulation or court order).

Rule 26(f) Conference

  • Must occur at least 21 days before a scheduling conference or scheduling order deadline.

Discovery Cutoff

  • Set by the court's scheduling order under Rule 16(b). No default rule; the scheduling order controls.

Expert Witness Disclosures (Rule 26(a)(2))

  • Due at least 90 days before trial (or the date the case is to be ready for trial).
  • Rebuttal expert disclosures: Due within 30 days after the other party's expert disclosure.

Rule 33 — Interrogatories {#rule-33}

  • Response deadline: 30 days after service.
  • Presumptive limit: 25 interrogatories (including subparts) per party.

Rule 34 — Requests for Production {#rule-34}

  • Response deadline: 30 days after service.
  • No presumptive numerical limit (but subject to proportionality under Rule 26(b)(1)).

Rule 36 — Requests for Admission {#rule-36}

  • Response deadline: 30 days after service.
  • Critical consequence: Failure to respond means matters are deemed admitted.

Rule 30 — Depositions {#rule-30}

  • Notice requirement: Reasonable written notice to every party.
  • Duration limit: 1 day of 7 hours per deponent.
  • Presumptive limit: 10 depositions per side.

Rule 56 — Summary Judgment {#rule-56}

  • May be filed at any time until 30 days after close of all discovery (unless local rules or the scheduling order set a different deadline).
  • Response deadline: Set by local rules (commonly 21-28 days).
  • Reply deadline: Set by local rules (commonly 14 days).
  • Note: Always check the scheduling order and local rules for the specific court.

Expert Witness Deadlines {#expert-deadlines}

Deadline Default Timing Rule
Expert disclosure 90 days before trial Rule 26(a)(2)(D)
Rebuttal expert disclosure 30 days after opposing expert disclosure Rule 26(a)(2)(D)

Federal Holidays {#holidays}

For deadline computation under FRCP Rule 6(a):

  • January 1 — New Year's Day
  • Third Monday in January — Birthday of Martin Luther King Jr.
  • Third Monday in February — Washington's Birthday (Presidents' Day)
  • Last Monday in May — Memorial Day
  • June 19 — Juneteenth National Independence Day
  • July 4 — Independence Day
  • First Monday in September — Labor Day
  • Second Monday in October — Columbus Day
  • November 11 — Veterans Day
  • Fourth Thursday in November — Thanksgiving Day
  • December 25 — Christmas Day

Note: When a holiday falls on Saturday, it is observed on Friday. When it falls on Sunday, it is observed on Monday. Juneteenth was added as a federal holiday in 2021.