California court deadline calculator

Pick a deadline and enter the trigger date. The result applies Cal. Gov. Code 6800, 6804; Cal. Code Civ. Proc. 12, 12a, 12b, 17(b)(4); Gov. Code 6707 (state agencies) (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: Santa Cruz County local rules are included below (marked with the court name), layered on these base rules. Pre-suit claim presentation and suit deadlines for money or damages claims against California public entities and their employees under the Government Claims Act (Gov. Code 900-996.6), including late-claim applications and court petitions for relief. Entity-specific claims procedures adopted by charter, ordinance or agreement (Gov. Code 935, 930.2), Registry of Public Agencies relief (946.4), and claims statutes outside the Act are not modeled.. Rules current as of 2026-10-23.

Santa Cruz County local rules independently reviewed (effective 2026-07-01)
Deadline
Thursday, May 6, 2027
  1. Trigger (Date the cause of action accrued (Gov. Code 901)): Friday, November 6, 2026.
  2. Add 6 months: Thursday, May 6, 2027.
Rules applied
Cal. Gov. Code 911.2(a)
(a) A claim relating to a cause of action for death or for injury to person or to personal property or growing crops shall be presented as provided in Article 2 (commencing with Section 915) not later than six months after the accrual of the cause of action. A claim relating to any other cause of action shall be presented as provided in Article 2 (commencing with Section 915) not later than one year after the accrual of the cause of action.
Official source
Cal. Gov. Code 6800, 6804; Cal. Code Civ. Proc. 12, 12a, 12b, 17(b)(4); Gov. Code 6707 (state agencies)
Gov. Code 6800: "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." Gov. Code 6804: "“Month” means a calendar month, unless otherwise expressed." Gov. Code 6707: "When the last day for filing any instrument or other document with a state agency falls upon a Saturday or holiday, such act may be performed upon the next business day with the same effect as if it had been performed upon the day appointed." 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." CCP 12b: "If any city, county, state, or public office, other than a branch office, is closed for the whole of any day, insofar as the business of that office is concerned, that day shall be considered as a holiday for the purposes of computing time under Sections 12 and 12a." 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."
Official source
  • Months-based period (Gov. Code 6804, CCP 17(b)(4): 'Month' means a calendar month, unless otherwise expressed). Convention applied: the period ends on the same-numbered day of the later month; if that month has no such day (e.g., Aug. 31 plus 6 months), the last day of that month. California statutes do not state the no-corresponding-day rule; AMBIGUITY, verify for end-of-month triggers. Last day on a Saturday, Sunday, or holiday rolls forward under CCP 12a. Accrual date is the date the cause of action would accrue under the applicable statute of limitations; for equitable indemnity, the date the defendant is served with the complaint giving rise to the indemnity claim (Gov. Code 901). A claim sent by mail is presented at the time of deposit in the mail (Gov. Code 915.2(a)). Tolling (e.g., Gov. Code 945.3) and delayed-discovery rules are not modeled. If missed, apply for leave to present a late claim within one year of accrual (911.4).
  • 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.
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Santa Cruz County: other local timing requirements

  • Civil long cause master calendar call on the Thursday two weeks before trial at 1:30 p.m.; all jury instructions, motions in limine, witness and exhibit lists, trial briefs, voir dire/questionnaires, statements of the case and special verdict forms due by 12 noon on the day of the Calendar Call. Santa Cruz Super. Ct. Local Rule 2.2.02
  • Civil ex parte (determined on papers): notice before 10:00 a.m. court day before; notify clerk by 11:00 a.m. court day before; papers to clerk and other side by 3:00 p.m. court day before; opposition by 10:00 a.m. day of determination; orders after 2:30 p.m. Santa Cruz Super. Ct. Local Rule 2.9.01
  • Civil tentative rulings, if issued, published by 3:00 p.m. the day before; oral argument requires contacting court and all opposing parties by 4:00 p.m. the court day before (CRC 3.1308). Santa Cruz Super. Ct. Local Rules (Civil Tentative Rulings, Div. 2)
  • Family ex parte (Watsonville): notice by 10:00 a.m. court day before the 1:00 p.m. hearing; notify ex parte clerk by 11:00 a.m.; papers delivered and served by 3:00 p.m. day before; objections by 10:00 a.m. day of hearing. Santa Cruz Super. Ct. Local Rule 3.1.13
  • Probate ex parte: determined on papers by 2:30 p.m.; schedule and submit by 10 a.m. the court day before; certain petitions require paperwork by 10:00 a.m. five court days before the ex parte date. Santa Cruz Super. Ct. Local Rule 4.1.08
  • Criminal jury trial readiness conference at 9:00 a.m. on the Wednesday two weeks before trial; in limine motions, witness and exhibit lists and proposed jury instructions due by 12 noon on the Calendar Call date. Santa Cruz Super. Ct. Local Rule 5.1.06
  • Criminal Master Calendar trial documents e-filed by 12 p.m. the day of the Master Calendar. Santa Cruz Super. Ct. Local Rule 1.3.02
  • Unlawful detainer ex parte: notice to opposing party before 10:00 a.m. the court day before; notify clerk by 11:00 a.m. the court day before (not earlier than two court days before); papers by 3:00 p.m. the court day before; opposition by 10:00 a.m. day of determination; lockout-date exception allows same-day notice by 11:00 a.m. and papers to noon. Santa Cruz Super. Ct. Local Rule 2.9.03
  • Civil harassment, workplace violence, gun violence and postsecondary school violence restraining order requests filed in Watsonville by 10:00 a.m. for same-day consideration; DV and elder abuse requests likewise (Rule 3.1.13). Santa Cruz Super. Ct. Local Rules 2.9.02, 3.1.13
  • Civil ex parte: papers to clerk and to opposing party by 3:00 p.m. the court day before; opposition by 10:00 a.m. day of determination (supplements existing 2.9.01 entry). Santa Cruz Super. Ct. Local Rule 2.9.01
  • Civil law and motion: stipulated continuance requests within 24 hours of the hearing (weekends and holidays excepted) ordinarily not granted; one continuance per side. Santa Cruz Super. Ct. Local Rule 2.4.02
  • Family CCRC: failure to appear without 48 hours' notice results in fee assessment. Santa Cruz Super. Ct. Local Rule 3.3.02
  • Family custody evaluator must respond in writing to a complaint at least 2 calendar days before the hearing (evaluator duty; complaint deadline already in existing file). Santa Cruz Super. Ct. Local Rule 3.3.03
  • Probate: Pre-Approval List posted on court website one day before hearing; check to determine if appearance needed. Santa Cruz Super. Ct. Local Rule 4.1.03
  • Probate ex parte (non-temporary-conservatorship): notice to opposing party before 10:00 a.m. the court day before; objections by 10:00 a.m. day of determination. Santa Cruz Super. Ct. Local Rule 4.1.08
  • Special administration letters ordinarily require at least 24 hours' notice to surviving spouse, nominated executor and persons listed in petition. Santa Cruz Super. Ct. Local Rule 4.2.01
  • Temporary conservatorship where general petition will be contested: known potential objectors get at least 24 hours' notice of presentation. Santa Cruz Super. Ct. Local Rule 4.3.02
  • Criminal urgent calendar requests (SUPCR 205) should generally be e-filed no less than two court days before the requested hearing. Santa Cruz Super. Ct. Local Rule 5.1.16
  • Juvenile ex parte: appointment with the court at least 24 hours in advance. Santa Cruz Super. Ct. Local Rule 6.1.06
  • Juvenile dependency CASA reports: courtesy copies to counsel and social worker via portal within two days of the hearing (CASA program duty). Santa Cruz Super. Ct. Local Rule 6.3.02
  • Christmas Eve is a half-day court closure: Thursday Dec 24, 2026 and Thursday Dec 23, 2027 (afternoon). Not modeled as a full closure because the court is open part of the day and e-filing until 11:59 p.m. is deemed filed that day (Rule 1.3.01); confirm with the clerk before relying on it to extend a deadline. Santa Cruz Super. Ct. Court Holiday Schedule
  • Complex/mass tort: Court follows the California Rules of Court for complex litigation; no local complex CMO or deadline schedule.

Under Cal. Rules of Court, rule 3.20, county rules cannot change statewide deadlines for pleadings, motions, discovery or ex parte applications; local rules that tried to were excluded from the calculator.

Official local rules

California government claims deadlines covered

DeadlinePeriodRule
Present claim: death, personal injury, injury to personal property or growing crops (6 months)6 months afterCal. Gov. Code 911.2(a)
Present claim: all other causes of action (1 year)12 months afterCal. Gov. Code 911.2(a)
Claims against the state (DGS): pay filing fee after fee waiver denial10 days afterCal. Gov. Code 911.2(b)(3)
Board's deadline to give notice of insufficiency of claim (else sufficiency defenses waived)20 days afterCal. Gov. Code 910.8; 911
Board may not act on claim until 15 days after notice of insufficiency15 days afterCal. Gov. Code 910.8
Board's deadline to return untimely 6-month claim (else timeliness defense waived)45 days afterCal. Gov. Code 911.3(a), (b)
Board must act on claim (deemed rejected if no action)45 days afterCal. Gov. Code 912.4(a), (c)
Application for leave to present late claim (6-month claims only)12 months afterCal. Gov. Code 911.4(a), (b)
Late claim application: injured person was a minor (or incapacitated) during part of the claim period6 months afterCal. Gov. Code 911.6(b)(3), (5) (amended eff. Jan. 1, 2022, SB 501)
Board must grant or deny late-claim application (deemed denied if no action)45 days afterCal. Gov. Code 911.6(a), (c)
Board must act on claim after leave to present late claim is granted45 days afterCal. Gov. Code 912.2; 912.4(a), (c)
Court petition for relief from claim requirement after late-claim application denied6 months afterCal. Gov. Code 946.6(b) (amended eff. Jan. 1, 2022, SB 501)
Serve 946.6 petition and notice of hearing on public entity (CCP 1005(b) timing)16 court days beforeCal. Gov. Code 946.6(d); Cal. Code Civ. Proc. 1005(b)
File suit after court grants 946.6 petition30 days afterCal. Gov. Code 946.6(f)
File suit after written notice of rejection (6 months)6 months afterCal. Gov. Code 945.6(a)(1); 915.2(b); 950.6(b)
File suit when no written notice of rejection was given (2 years from accrual)24 months afterCal. Gov. Code 945.6(a)(2); 950.6(b)

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

Santa Cruz County, California Government claims Deadline Calculator | 1Court