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.
- Trigger (Date petition and summons served on respondent): Friday, October 23, 2026.
- Exclude the trigger day and count 30 calendar days: Sunday, November 22, 2026.
- 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)).
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
| Deadline | Period | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Response to petition for dissolution, legal separation, or nullity | 30 days after | Cal. Fam. Code 2020; Cal. Code Civ. Proc. 412.20(a)(3) (via Fam. Code 210) |
| Amended petition or amended response after joint petition is revoked | 30 days after | Cal. Fam. Code 2342.5(b)(2)(A) |
| Respondent's request for order to quash proceeding (deadline) | 30 days after | Cal. Rules of Court, rule 5.63(b), (c), (e); Cal. Fam. Code 2020 |
| Response due after request to quash is denied | 15 days after | Cal. Rules of Court, rule 5.63(c) |
| Petitioner's request to quash affirmative relief in the response | 15 days after | Cal. Rules of Court, rule 5.63(d), (e) |
| Six-month waiting period before marital status can end (from service) | 6 months after | Cal. Fam. Code 2339 |
| Six-month waiting period before marital status can end (from respondent's appearance) | 6 months after | Cal. Fam. Code 2339 |
| Six-month waiting period before marital status can end (joint petition) | 6 months after | Cal. Fam. Code 2339; 2331(b); 2342.5(b)(3) |
| Preliminary declaration of disclosure: petitioner | 60 days after | Cal. Fam. Code 2104(f) |
| Preliminary declaration of disclosure: petitioner, after service by publication/posting and a response is filed | 30 days after | Cal. Fam. Code 2104(f) |
| Preliminary declaration of disclosure: respondent | 60 days after | Cal. Fam. Code 2104(f) |
| Final declaration of disclosure before trial | 45 days before | Cal. Fam. Code 2105(a) |
| Request for order (FL-300): serve and file moving papers before hearing | 16 court days before | Cal. 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 hearing | 9 court days before | Cal. 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 hearing | 5 court days before | Cal. Code Civ. Proc. 1005(b), (c) |
| Proof of service of RFO: file before hearing | 5 court days before | Cal. Rules of Court, rule 5.94(b) |
| Written objections to declarations (RFO hearing) | 2 court days before | Cal. Rules of Court, rule 5.111(c)(1) |
| Temporary emergency (ex parte) orders: notice to other parties | 1 court days before | Cal. Rules of Court, rule 5.165(b) |
| Order after hearing: prepare and serve proposed order | 10 days after | Cal. Rules of Court, rule 5.125(b) |
| Order after hearing: other party approves or objects | 20 days after | Cal. Rules of Court, rule 5.125(c)(1) |
| Order after hearing: submit to court without approval | 25 days after | Cal. Rules of Court, rule 5.125(c)(2) |
| Motion for reconsideration | 10 days after | Cal. Code Civ. Proc. 1008(a) (via Fam. Code 210) |
| CCP 170.6 peremptory challenge: judge known at least 10 days before hearing/trial | 5 days before | Cal. Code Civ. Proc. 170.6(a)(2) |
| CCP 170.6 peremptory challenge: judge assigned for all purposes | 15 days after | Cal. Code Civ. Proc. 170.6(a)(2) |
| Trial or long-cause hearing brief: serve and file | 5 court days before | Cal. Rules of Court, rule 5.394 |
| Request for statement of decision | 10 days after | Cal. 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 decision | 10 days after | Cal. Rules of Court, rule 3.1590(e) |
| Objections to proposed statement of decision or judgment | 15 days after | Cal. Rules of Court, rule 3.1590(g) |
| Notice of intention to move for new trial (15 days after notice of entry) | 15 days after | Cal. Code Civ. Proc. 659(a)(2), (b) |
| Notice of intention to move for new trial (180-day outer limit) | 180 days after | Cal. Code Civ. Proc. 659(a)(2) |
| Notice of intention to move to vacate judgment (CCP 663a), 15 days after notice of entry | 15 days after | Cal. Code Civ. Proc. 663a(a)(2), (c) |
| Notice of intention to move to vacate judgment (CCP 663a), 180-day outer limit | 180 days after | Cal. Code Civ. Proc. 663a(a)(2) |
| Notice of appeal (60 days after service of notice of entry) | 60 days after | Cal. Rules of Court, rule 8.104(a), (b) |
| Notice of appeal (180-day outer limit) | 180 days after | Cal. Rules of Court, rule 8.104(a)(1)(C) |
| Motion to certify bifurcated-issue order for immediate appeal | 10 days after | Cal. Rules of Court, rule 5.392(b)(2) |
| Motion to appeal bifurcated-issue decision in Court of Appeal | 15 days after | Cal. Rules of Court, rule 5.392(d)(1) |
| Motion to set aside judgment (Fam. Code 2122): actual fraud | 12 months after | Cal. Fam. Code 2122(a) |
| Motion to set aside judgment (Fam. Code 2122): perjury in disclosure or income and expense declaration | 12 months after | Cal. Fam. Code 2122(b) |
| Motion to set aside judgment (Fam. Code 2122): duress | 24 months after | Cal. Fam. Code 2122(c) |
| Motion to set aside judgment (Fam. Code 2122): mental incapacity | 24 months after | Cal. Fam. Code 2122(d) |
| Motion to set aside judgment (Fam. Code 2122): mistake (stipulated or uncontested judgments) | 12 months after | Cal. Fam. Code 2122(e) |
| Motion to set aside judgment (Fam. Code 2122): failure to comply with disclosure requirements | 12 months after | Cal. Fam. Code 2122(f) |
| Relief from judgment or order for mistake, inadvertence, surprise, or excusable neglect (CCP 473(b)) | 6 months after | Cal. Code Civ. Proc. 473(b) (via Fam. Code 210) |
| Set aside support order: actual fraud | 6 months after | Cal. Fam. Code 3691(a) |
| Set aside support order: perjury | 6 months after | Cal. Fam. Code 3691(b) |
| Set aside default support order: lack of notice (outer limit) | 6 months after | Cal. Fam. Code 3691(c)(1) |
| Motion to modify spousal support after child support terminates | 6 months after | Cal. Fam. Code 4326(b) |
| Restraining order hearing must be held (TRO granted or denied) | 21 days after | Cal. Fam. Code 242(a) |
| Restraining order hearing must be held (TRO granted or denied, good cause extension) | 25 days after | Cal. Fam. Code 242(a) |
| Restraining order hearing must be held (no TRO requested) | 21 days after | Cal. Fam. Code 242(a) |
| Restraining order: personal service on respondent before hearing | 5 days before | Cal. Fam. Code 243(a), (b) |
| Restraining order renewal: earliest date to request renewal | 3 months before | Cal. Fam. Code 6345(a) |
| Rescind voluntary declaration of parentage | 60 days after | Cal. Fam. Code 7575(a) |
| Challenge to voluntary declaration of parentage by non-signatory | 24 months after | Cal. Fam. Code 7577(d) |
For developers: /api/deadlines?state=CA-FAM and the calculate_deadline tool in the 1Court MCP server.