ca-deadlines · diff
v0.1.0 to v0.1.1
13 added, 22 removed. Audit A to A.
---
name: ca-deadlines
description: >
- Use this skill whenever the user asks about timing or deadlines
- in a California civil case. Triggers include "when is my answer
- due California", "compute the deadline", "how many court days",
- "what's the opposition brief deadline", "I was served — when do
- I have to respond", "when does my discovery response have to go
- out", "California motion notice requirement", "CCP 1005", "CCP
- 12", "calendar days vs court days California", "mail service adds
- days California", "summary judgment timeline California CCP 437c",
- "how long do I have to file a motion to vacate California",
- "exemption claim deadline California", "FDCPA statute of
- limitations", "Rosenthal Act statute of limitations", "when does
- the discovery cutoff hit", "CMC statement deadline". Computes
- court-day and calendar-day deadlines under Code Civ. Proc.,
- § 12 and § 1013 using Govt. Code § 6700 California state holidays
- (including Day after Thanksgiving), covers the extended service
- rules under CCP § 1010.6 for e-service and CCP § 1013 for mail,
- and catalogs key California civil deadlines (answer, demurrer,
- motion notice, opposition, reply, CMC statement, discovery cutoff,
- summary judgment, and post-judgment). Deterministic date arithmetic
- is delegated to scripts/case-calendar.py. Composes with
- ca-first-30-days, ca-discovery, ca-post-judgment, and ca-file-packet.
- version: 0.1.0
+ Use for timing and deadlines in California civil cases. Triggers
+ include "when is my answer due California", "compute the
+ deadline", "how many court days", "opposition deadline",
+ "discovery response deadline", "motion notice requirement",
+ "CCP 12", "calendar vs court days", "mail service adds days",
+ "summary judgment timeline CCP 437c", "motion to vacate",
+ "FDCPA statute of limitations", "Rosenthal Act statute of
+ limitations", "discovery cutoff", "CMC statement deadline".
+ Computes deadlines under Code Civ. Proc., § 12 and § 1013 using
+ Govt. Code § 6700 holidays. Catalogs key civil deadlines (answer,
+ demurrer, motion notice, opposition, reply, discovery, summary
+ judgment, post-judgment).
+ version: 0.1.1
---
# 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.
---
## 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.
---
## 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.
---
## Deterministic computation
Use the bundled `scripts/case-calendar.py` for date arithmetic:
```bash
# 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.
---
## 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 |
---
## 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 |
---
## 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.**
---
## 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.