California court deadline calculator

Pick a deadline and enter the trigger date. The result applies Cal. Code Civ. Proc. 12, 12a, 10; Cal. Rules of Court, rule 1.10 (applied in family law by Fam. Code 210) (counting, weekends and court holidays), service-method extensions where the law allows them, and the rule for that deadline, with each step and citation shown. Scope: Proceedings under the California Family Code in superior court: dissolution, legal separation, nullity (including joint petitions), requests for order, Family Code restraining orders (Fam. Code 240 et seq., including DVPA), support set-asides and parentage. General civil rules apply through Fam. Code 210 and Cal. Rules of Court 5.2(d) and 3.10 except where the Family Code or Title 5 rules provide otherwise. Excludes local child support agency (Title IV-D) specific procedures, juvenile, adoption, guardianship, and local rules.. Rules current as of 2026-10-23.

Deadline
Monday, November 23, 2026
  1. Trigger (Date petition and summons served on respondent): Friday, October 23, 2026.
  2. Exclude the trigger day and count 30 calendar days: Sunday, November 22, 2026.
  3. That day is a Sunday, so the deadline moves to the next court day: Monday, November 23, 2026 (Cal. Code Civ. Proc. 12, 12a, 10; Cal. Rules of Court, rule 1.10 (applied in family law by Fam. Code 210)).
Rules applied
Cal. Fam. Code 2020; Cal. Code Civ. Proc. 412.20(a)(3) (via Fam. Code 210)
Fam. Code 2020: "A responsive pleading, if any, shall be filed and a copy served on the petitioner within 30 days of the date of the service on the respondent of a copy of the petition and summons." CCP 412.20(a)(3): "A direction that the defendant file with the court a written pleading in response to the complaint within 30 days after summons is served on the defendant." Fam. Code 210: "Except to the extent that any other statute or rules adopted by the Judicial Council provide applicable rules, the rules of practice and procedure applicable to civil actions generally, including the provisions of Title 3a (commencing with Section 391) of Part 2 of the Code of Civil Procedure, apply to, and constitute the rules of practice and procedure in, proceedings under this code."
Official source
Cal. Code Civ. Proc. 12, 12a, 10; Cal. Rules of Court, rule 1.10 (applied in family law by Fam. Code 210)
CCP 12: "The time in which any act provided by law is to be done is computed by excluding the first day, and including the last, unless the last day is a holiday, and then it is also excluded." CCP 12a: "(a) If the last day for the performance of any act provided or required by law to be performed within a specified period of time is a holiday, then that period is hereby extended to and including the next day that is not a holiday. For purposes of this section, “holiday” means all day on Saturdays, all holidays specified in Section 135 and, to the extent provided in Section 12b, all days that by terms of Section 12b are required to be considered as holidays.(b) This section applies to Sections 659, 659a, and 921, and to all other provisions of law providing or requiring an act to be performed on a particular day or within a specified period of time, whether expressed in this or any other code or statute, ordinance, rule, or regulation." CCP 10: "Holidays within the meaning of this code are every Sunday and any other days that are specified or provided for as judicial holidays in Section 135." CRC 1.10(a): "The time in which any act provided by these rules is to be performed is computed by excluding the first day and including the last, unless the last day is a Saturday, Sunday, or other legal holiday, and then it is also excluded." CRC 1.10(b): "Unless otherwise provided by law, if the last day for the performance of any act that is required by these rules to be performed within a specific period of time falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or other legal holiday, the period is extended to and includes the next day that is not a holiday." Fam. Code 210: "Except to the extent that any other statute or rules adopted by the Judicial Council provide applicable rules, the rules of practice and procedure applicable to civil actions generally, including the provisions of Title 3a (commencing with Section 391) of Part 2 of the Code of Civil Procedure, apply to, and constitute the rules of practice and procedure in, proceedings under this code."
Official source
  • Response must be filed AND served within 30 days. The trigger is the date service of summons is COMPLETE, which depends on method: personal service is complete on delivery; substituted service (CCP 415.20) is complete on the 10th day after mailing; notice and acknowledgment (CCP 415.30) on the date the acknowledgment is signed; out-of-state mail (CCP 415.40) on the 10th day after mailing; publication per the order. The user must enter the completion date (these service statutes were not re-quoted here). CCP 1013/1010.6 add-ons do not apply to service of summons. Parties may agree to extend; default is not automatic (request to enter default under Cal. Rules of Court 5.401 et seq.). Joint petitions (Fam. Code 2331(b)) have no response; CCP 412.20 does not apply to a joint summons (Fam. Code 2342.5(a)(3)). Also used for other Family Code actions that are not 'proceedings': Cal. Rules of Court 5.2(e) ('the respondent must file an appropriate response within 30 days after service of the summons and a copy of the petition').
  • If the clerk's office is closed or inaccessible on the last day (weather, emergency or local closure orders), the deadline may be extended. Check local orders.

This calculator applies the cited rules to the dates you enter. It is not legal advice. Court orders, local rules, and case-specific facts can change a deadline; verify before relying on it. Rule set pending attorney review.

California family law deadlines covered

DeadlinePeriodRule
Response to petition for dissolution, legal separation, or nullity30 days afterCal. Fam. Code 2020; Cal. Code Civ. Proc. 412.20(a)(3) (via Fam. Code 210)
Amended petition or amended response after joint petition is revoked30 days afterCal. Fam. Code 2342.5(b)(2)(A)
Respondent's request for order to quash proceeding (deadline)30 days afterCal. Rules of Court, rule 5.63(b), (c), (e); Cal. Fam. Code 2020
Response due after request to quash is denied15 days afterCal. Rules of Court, rule 5.63(c)
Petitioner's request to quash affirmative relief in the response15 days afterCal. Rules of Court, rule 5.63(d), (e)
Six-month waiting period before marital status can end (from service)6 months afterCal. Fam. Code 2339
Six-month waiting period before marital status can end (from respondent's appearance)6 months afterCal. Fam. Code 2339
Six-month waiting period before marital status can end (joint petition)6 months afterCal. Fam. Code 2339; 2331(b); 2342.5(b)(3)
Preliminary declaration of disclosure: petitioner60 days afterCal. Fam. Code 2104(f)
Preliminary declaration of disclosure: petitioner, after service by publication/posting and a response is filed30 days afterCal. Fam. Code 2104(f)
Preliminary declaration of disclosure: respondent60 days afterCal. Fam. Code 2104(f)
Final declaration of disclosure before trial45 days beforeCal. Fam. Code 2105(a)
Request for order (FL-300): serve and file moving papers before hearing16 court days beforeCal. Code Civ. Proc. 1005(b) (via Cal. Rules of Court, rule 5.92(a)(1)(A), (d)(2); Fam. Code 210)
Responsive declaration to RFO (FL-320): file and serve before hearing9 court days beforeCal. Code Civ. Proc. 1005(b), (c) (via Cal. Rules of Court, rule 5.92(a)(1)(C), (g))
Reply declaration to responsive declaration: file and serve before hearing5 court days beforeCal. Code Civ. Proc. 1005(b), (c)
Proof of service of RFO: file before hearing5 court days beforeCal. Rules of Court, rule 5.94(b)
Written objections to declarations (RFO hearing)2 court days beforeCal. Rules of Court, rule 5.111(c)(1)
Temporary emergency (ex parte) orders: notice to other parties1 court days beforeCal. Rules of Court, rule 5.165(b)
Order after hearing: prepare and serve proposed order10 days afterCal. Rules of Court, rule 5.125(b)
Order after hearing: other party approves or objects20 days afterCal. Rules of Court, rule 5.125(c)(1)
Order after hearing: submit to court without approval25 days afterCal. Rules of Court, rule 5.125(c)(2)
Motion for reconsideration10 days afterCal. Code Civ. Proc. 1008(a) (via Fam. Code 210)
CCP 170.6 peremptory challenge: judge known at least 10 days before hearing/trial5 days beforeCal. Code Civ. Proc. 170.6(a)(2)
CCP 170.6 peremptory challenge: judge assigned for all purposes15 days afterCal. Code Civ. Proc. 170.6(a)(2)
Trial or long-cause hearing brief: serve and file5 court days beforeCal. Rules of Court, rule 5.394
Request for statement of decision10 days afterCal. Code Civ. Proc. 632 (version eff. Jan. 1, 2026, repealed Jan. 1, 2027); Cal. Rules of Court, rule 3.1590(d) (applies to family cases under rule 3.10)
Other party's proposals on content of statement of decision10 days afterCal. Rules of Court, rule 3.1590(e)
Objections to proposed statement of decision or judgment15 days afterCal. Rules of Court, rule 3.1590(g)
Notice of intention to move for new trial (15 days after notice of entry)15 days afterCal. Code Civ. Proc. 659(a)(2), (b)
Notice of intention to move for new trial (180-day outer limit)180 days afterCal. Code Civ. Proc. 659(a)(2)
Notice of intention to move to vacate judgment (CCP 663a), 15 days after notice of entry15 days afterCal. Code Civ. Proc. 663a(a)(2), (c)
Notice of intention to move to vacate judgment (CCP 663a), 180-day outer limit180 days afterCal. Code Civ. Proc. 663a(a)(2)
Notice of appeal (60 days after service of notice of entry)60 days afterCal. Rules of Court, rule 8.104(a), (b)
Notice of appeal (180-day outer limit)180 days afterCal. Rules of Court, rule 8.104(a)(1)(C)
Motion to certify bifurcated-issue order for immediate appeal10 days afterCal. Rules of Court, rule 5.392(b)(2)
Motion to appeal bifurcated-issue decision in Court of Appeal15 days afterCal. Rules of Court, rule 5.392(d)(1)
Motion to set aside judgment (Fam. Code 2122): actual fraud12 months afterCal. Fam. Code 2122(a)
Motion to set aside judgment (Fam. Code 2122): perjury in disclosure or income and expense declaration12 months afterCal. Fam. Code 2122(b)
Motion to set aside judgment (Fam. Code 2122): duress24 months afterCal. Fam. Code 2122(c)
Motion to set aside judgment (Fam. Code 2122): mental incapacity24 months afterCal. Fam. Code 2122(d)
Motion to set aside judgment (Fam. Code 2122): mistake (stipulated or uncontested judgments)12 months afterCal. Fam. Code 2122(e)
Motion to set aside judgment (Fam. Code 2122): failure to comply with disclosure requirements12 months afterCal. Fam. Code 2122(f)
Relief from judgment or order for mistake, inadvertence, surprise, or excusable neglect (CCP 473(b))6 months afterCal. Code Civ. Proc. 473(b) (via Fam. Code 210)
Set aside support order: actual fraud6 months afterCal. Fam. Code 3691(a)
Set aside support order: perjury6 months afterCal. Fam. Code 3691(b)
Set aside default support order: lack of notice (outer limit)6 months afterCal. Fam. Code 3691(c)(1)
Motion to modify spousal support after child support terminates6 months afterCal. Fam. Code 4326(b)
Restraining order hearing must be held (TRO granted or denied)21 days afterCal. Fam. Code 242(a)
Restraining order hearing must be held (TRO granted or denied, good cause extension)25 days afterCal. Fam. Code 242(a)
Restraining order hearing must be held (no TRO requested)21 days afterCal. Fam. Code 242(a)
Restraining order: personal service on respondent before hearing5 days beforeCal. Fam. Code 243(a), (b)
Restraining order renewal: earliest date to request renewal3 months beforeCal. Fam. Code 6345(a)
Rescind voluntary declaration of parentage60 days afterCal. Fam. Code 7575(a)
Challenge to voluntary declaration of parentage by non-signatory24 months afterCal. Fam. Code 7577(d)

For developers: /api/deadlines?state=CA-FAM and the calculate_deadline tool in the 1Court MCP server.

California Family law Deadline Calculator | 1Court