California court deadline calculator
Pick a deadline and enter the trigger date. The result applies Code Civ. Proc. 12, 12a, 10, 133-135; Gov. Code 6800; Cal. Rules of Court, rule 1.10. 'Judicial day' / 'court day': not defined in WIC or CRC 5.502. (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: Statewide California juvenile court deadlines: dependency (Welf. & Inst. Code 300 et seq.) and delinquency (Welf. & Inst. Code 601/602), plus juvenile appeal and writ rules (Cal. Rules of Court, rules 8.400-8.456). Rule ids: dep_ = dependency, del_ = delinquency, juv_ = both (proceeding 'both'). Local rules and county practices not included.. Rules current as of 2026-10-26.
Deadline
Thursday, November 5, 2026
- Trigger (Date the section 300 petition was filed (child taken into custody and not released)): Wednesday, November 4, 2026.
- Count 1 court days (Saturdays, Sundays, and court holidays are not counted): Thursday, November 5, 2026.
Rules applied
Welf. & Inst. Code 315
This hearing shall be held as soon as possible, but not later than the expiration of the next judicial day after a petition to declare the child a dependent child has been filed. If the hearing is not held within the period prescribed by this section, the child shall be released from custody.Official source
Code Civ. Proc. 12, 12a, 10, 133-135; Gov. Code 6800; Cal. Rules of Court, rule 1.10. 'Judicial day' / 'court day': not defined in WIC or CRC 5.502.
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 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." CCP 133: "Courts of justice may be held and judicial business transacted on any day, except as provided in this article." 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." 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."Official source
- Outer limit for a child in custody; remedy is release. 'Judicial day' is not defined in WIC or CRC 5.502; treated here as a court day (not a Saturday, Sunday, or judicial holiday under CCP 133-135). The petition itself must be filed within 48 hours of custody excluding nonjudicial days (WIC 313), see not_modeled. Warrant/transfer cases under CRC 5.670(b) use a 48-hour rule instead (not_modeled).
- 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.
Track a case. Save its key dates once, get every deadline in one calendar feed for Outlook, Google or Apple, and it updates itself when the trial is continued or a rule changes.
Create a matterCalifornia juvenile deadlines covered
| Deadline | Period | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Dependency detention hearing: by end of next judicial day after petition filed | 1 court days after | Welf. & Inst. Code 315 |
| Dependency initial hearing (child not detained): within 15 court days of petition | 15 court days after | Cal. Rules of Court, rule 5.670(a) |
| Detention hearing continued on parent/child motion: one court day | 1 court days after | Welf. & Inst. Code 322; Cal. Rules of Court, rule 5.672(a) |
| Detention rehearing on prima facie evidence: within 3 judicial days of request | 3 court days after | Welf. & Inst. Code 321; Cal. Rules of Court, rule 5.674(e) |
| In lieu of prima facie rehearing: jurisdiction hearing within 10 days | 10 days after | Cal. Rules of Court, rule 5.674(e); Welf. & Inst. Code 321 |
| Dependency jurisdiction hearing (child detained): within 15 judicial days of detention order | 15 court days after | Welf. & Inst. Code 334 |
| Dependency jurisdiction hearing (child not detained): within 30 days of petition | 30 days after | Welf. & Inst. Code 334 |
| Return of child within 2 working days after finding no jurisdiction | 2 court days after | Cal. Rules of Court, rule 5.684 |
| Notice of dependency jurisdiction hearing (child detained): at least 5 days before | 5 days before | Welf. & Inst. Code 291(c)(1) |
| Notice of dependency jurisdiction hearing (child not detained): at least 10 days before | 10 days before | Welf. & Inst. Code 291(c)(2) |
| Written motion to continue a dependency hearing: filed at least 2 court days before | 2 court days before | Welf. & Inst. Code 352(a)(3); Cal. Rules of Court, rule 5.550(a)(4) |
| Dependency disposition hearing continued (child detained): max 10 judicial days | 10 court days after | Welf. & Inst. Code 358(a)(1) |
| Dependency disposition hearing (child not detained): within 30 days of jurisdictional finding | 30 days after | Welf. & Inst. Code 358(a)(2) |
| Dependency disposition (not detained), extended for cause: 30 + 15 days after finding | 45 days after | Welf. & Inst. Code 358(a)(2) |
| Dependency disposition when bypass of services (361.5(b)) alleged: continuance max 30 days | 30 days after | Welf. & Inst. Code 358(a)(3) |
| Dependency disposition completed within 60 days after detention hearing (child removed) | 60 days after | Welf. & Inst. Code 352(b); Cal. Rules of Court, rules 5.550(a)(3), 5.690(d) |
| Dependency disposition (Indian child) completed within 30 days after detention hearing | 30 days after | Welf. & Inst. Code 352(b); Cal. Rules of Court, rule 5.690(d) |
| Dependency disposition: never more than 6 months after detention hearing | 6 months after | Welf. & Inst. Code 352(b); Cal. Rules of Court, rule 5.550(a)(3) |
| Dependency written case plan filed: by disposition or 60 days after initial removal, whichever first | 60 days after | Cal. Rules of Court, rule 5.690(c)(1) |
| Date child is deemed to enter foster care (60-day prong) | 60 days after | Welf. & Inst. Code 361.49(a); Cal. Rules of Court, rule 5.502(9) |
| Six-month review hearing: 6 months after initial disposition | 6 months after | Welf. & Inst. Code 366.21(e)(1) |
| Six-month review: no later than 12 months after entry into foster care | 12 months after | Welf. & Inst. Code 366.21(e)(1) |
| Twelve-month permanency hearing: no later than 12 months after entry into foster care | 12 months after | Welf. & Inst. Code 366.21(f)(1); Cal. Rules of Court, rules 5.710(a)(4), 5.715(a) |
| Twelve-month permanency hearing set no later than 18 months from initial removal | 18 months after | Cal. Rules of Court, rule 5.715(a) |
| Eighteen-month permanency review hearing: within 18 months of original removal | 18 months after | Welf. & Inst. Code 366.22(a)(1); 366.21(g)(1); 361.5(a)(3)(A) |
| Twenty-four-month subsequent permanency review: within 24 months of original removal | 24 months after | Welf. & Inst. Code 366.25(a)(1); 361.5(a)(4)(A) |
| Family maintenance review (child not removed): within 6 months of disposition | 6 months after | Welf. & Inst. Code 364(a), (d); Cal. Rules of Court, rule 5.706(d) |
| Social worker review report filed and served at least 10 calendar days before review hearing | 10 days before | Welf. & Inst. Code 366.21(c); 364(b); Cal. Rules of Court, rule 5.708 |
| Notice of status review hearing: served no later than 15 days before | 15 days before | Welf. & Inst. Code 293(c); 292(c); 295(c) |
| Notice of status review hearing: not served earlier than 30 days before | 30 days before | Welf. & Inst. Code 293(c); 292(c); 295(c) |
| Section 366.26 (selection and implementation) hearing within 120 days of order setting it | 120 days after | Welf. & Inst. Code 366.21(e), (g)(4); 366.22; 366.25; Cal. Rules of Court, rules 5.695, 5.710(b) |
| Notice of section 366.26 hearing: service completed at least 45 days before | 45 days before | Welf. & Inst. Code 294(c)(1) |
| Notice of section 366.26 hearing by publication: completed at least 30 days before | 30 days before | Welf. & Inst. Code 294(c)(2) |
| Due diligence affidavit for parent whose whereabouts are unknown: at least 75 days before 366.26 hearing | 75 days before | Welf. & Inst. Code 294(f)(7) |
| Section 366.26 assessment report filed and served at least 10 calendar days before | 10 days before | Cal. Rules of Court, rule 5.725(c) |
| Adoption identified as goal without termination (difficult to place): search period max 180 days | 180 days after | Welf. & Inst. Code 366.26(c)(3) |
| Post-permanency status review: at least every 6 months | 6 months after | Welf. & Inst. Code 366.3(a)(1), (d)(1); Cal. Rules of Court, rule 5.740(a), (b) |
| Child's petition to reinstate parental rights: earliest 3 years after termination | 36 months after | Welf. & Inst. Code 366.26(i)(3) |
| Notice of petition to terminate or modify a dependency legal guardianship: at least 15 court days before | 15 court days before | Welf. & Inst. Code 295(f); Cal. Rules of Court, rule 5.740 |
| Section 388 petition (request to change court order): hearing within 30 calendar days of filing | 30 days after | Cal. Rules of Court, rule 5.570(f) |
| Objection to proposed removal from prospective adoptive parent: 5 court days (or 7 calendar days, whichever longer) | 5 court days after | Welf. & Inst. Code 366.26(n)(3)(A); Cal. Rules of Court, rule 5.727 |
| Objection to proposed removal from prospective adoptive parent: 7 calendar days (or 5 court days, whichever longer) | 7 days after | Welf. & Inst. Code 366.26(n)(3)(A); Cal. Rules of Court, rule 5.727 |
| Hearing on objection to proposed or emergency removal: within 5 court days of objection | 5 court days after | Welf. & Inst. Code 366.26(n)(3)(B); Cal. Rules of Court, rules 5.727, 5.728 |
| Agency notice of emergency removal from prospective adoptive parent: within 2 court days | 2 court days after | Welf. & Inst. Code 366.26(n)(4); Cal. Rules of Court, rule 5.728(c)(1) |
| Objection to emergency removal: 5 court days (or 7 calendar days, whichever longer) after notification | 5 court days after | Welf. & Inst. Code 366.26(n)(4) |
| Objection to emergency removal: 7 calendar days (or 5 court days, whichever longer) after notification | 7 days after | Welf. & Inst. Code 366.26(n)(4) |
| Hearing on request for prospective adoptive parent designation (no removal pending): within 30 calendar days | 30 days after | Cal. Rules of Court, rule 5.726 |
| Clerk serves written findings and orders within 3 judicial days | 3 court days after | Welf. & Inst. Code 248.5 |
| Application for rehearing of referee's order: within 10 days after service | 10 days after | Welf. & Inst. Code 252; Cal. Rules of Court, rule 5.542(a) |
| Referee's order becomes final 10 calendar days after service (no rehearing) | 10 days after | Cal. Rules of Court, rule 5.540(c) |
| Juvenile judge's own-motion rehearing of referee matter: within 20 judicial days of hearing | 20 court days after | Welf. & Inst. Code 253; Cal. Rules of Court, rule 5.542(d) |
| Rehearing application deemed granted if not ruled on within 20 days of receipt | 20 days after | Welf. & Inst. Code 252; Cal. Rules of Court, rule 5.542(c) |
| Rehearing application (extended for good cause) deemed granted at 45 days | 45 days after | Welf. & Inst. Code 252 |
| Rehearing de novo of referee's detention order: within 2 court days after granted | 2 court days after | Cal. Rules of Court, rule 5.542(e) |
| Rehearing de novo of other referee matters: within 10 court days after granted | 10 court days after | Cal. Rules of Court, rule 5.542(e) |
| Referee's removal order effective only if approved by judge within 2 court days | 2 court days after | Cal. Rules of Court, rule 5.540(b) |
| Notice of intent to file writ petition (order setting 366.26 hearing), party present: 7 days | 7 days after | Cal. Rules of Court, rule 8.450(e)(4)(A); Welf. & Inst. Code 366.26(l) |
| Notice of intent to file writ (366.26 setting order), notified only by mail: 12 days after mailing | 12 days after | Cal. Rules of Court, rule 8.450(e)(4)(B) |
| Notice of intent to file writ (366.26 setting order), mailed outside California within U.S.: 17 days | 17 days after | Cal. Rules of Court, rule 8.450(e)(4)(C) |
| Notice of intent to file writ (366.26 setting order), mailed outside the U.S.: 27 days | 27 days after | Cal. Rules of Court, rule 8.450(e)(4)(D) |
| Notice of intent to file writ, order made by referee (party present): 7 + 10 days | 17 days after | Cal. Rules of Court, rule 8.450(e)(4)(E) |
| Writ petition (366.26 setting order): served and filed 10 days after record filed in Court of Appeal | 10 days after | Cal. Rules of Court, rule 8.452(c)(1) |
| Response to writ petition (366.26 setting order): 10 days after petition filed (15 if served by mail) | 10 days after | Cal. Rules of Court, rule 8.452(c)(2) |
| Petitioner's request to augment/correct record in 366.26 writ: 5 days after receiving record | 5 days after | Cal. Rules of Court, rule 8.452(e)(2) |
| Notice of intent to file writ (post-termination placement order, WIC 366.28): 7 days | 7 days after | Cal. Rules of Court, rule 8.454(e)(4) |
| Notice of intent to file placement writ (366.28), notified only by mail: 12 days after mailing | 12 days after | Cal. Rules of Court, rule 8.454(e)(5) |
| Placement writ petition (366.28): 10 days after record filed | 10 days after | Cal. Rules of Court, rule 8.456(c)(1) |
| Response to placement writ petition (366.28): 10 days after filing (15 if served by mail) | 10 days after | Cal. Rules of Court, rule 8.456(c)(2) |
| Juvenile notice of appeal: 60 days after rendition of judgment or making of order | 60 days after | Cal. Rules of Court, rule 8.406(a)(1); Welf. & Inst. Code 395, 800 |
| Notice of appeal from referee's order: 60 days after referee's order becomes final | 60 days after | Cal. Rules of Court, rule 8.406(a)(1)(A) |
| Notice of appeal after rehearing denied: 60 days after referee's order served (or 30 after denial, whichever later) | 60 days after | Cal. Rules of Court, rule 8.406(a)(1)(B) |
| Notice of appeal after rehearing denied: 30 days after entry of denial (or 60 after service, whichever later) | 30 days after | Cal. Rules of Court, rule 8.406(a)(1)(B) |
| Juvenile cross-appeal: 20 days after clerk sends notification of first appeal (if later than normal time) | 20 days after | Cal. Rules of Court, rule 8.406(b) |
| Juvenile appeal: appellant's opening brief 40 days after record filed | 40 days after | Cal. Rules of Court, rule 8.412(b)(1) |
| Juvenile appeal: respondent's brief 30 days after opening brief filed | 30 days after | Cal. Rules of Court, rule 8.412(b)(2) |
| Juvenile appeal: reply brief 20 days after respondent's brief filed | 20 days after | Cal. Rules of Court, rule 8.412(b)(3) |
| Dependency appeal: child's brief (child not appellant) 10 days after respondent's brief | 10 days after | Cal. Rules of Court, rule 8.412(b)(4) |
| Late brief: file within 30 days after clerk's rule 8.412(d) notice | 30 days after | Cal. Rules of Court, rule 8.412(d)(1) |
| Termination-of-parental-rights appeal: opening brief 30 days after record filed | 30 days after | Cal. Rules of Court, rule 8.416(e)(1) |
| Termination appeal: appellant's motion to augment/correct record 15 days after receiving record | 15 days after | Cal. Rules of Court, rule 8.416(d)(2) |
| Termination appeal: late brief within 15 days after clerk's notice | 15 days after | Cal. Rules of Court, rule 8.416(g) |
| Termination appeal: request for oral argument within 15 days after reply brief filed or due | 15 days after | Cal. Rules of Court, rule 8.416(h)(1) |
| Delinquency detention hearing: before end of next judicial day after petition filed | 1 court days after | Welf. & Inst. Code 632(a); Cal. Rules of Court, rule 5.752(f) |
| Delinquency initial hearing (child not detained): within 15 court days of petition | 15 court days after | Cal. Rules of Court, rule 5.752(a) |
| Delinquency prima facie rehearing: within 3 judicial days of request | 3 court days after | Welf. & Inst. Code 637; Cal. Rules of Court, rule 5.764(a) |
| Delinquency jurisdiction hearing (detained): begin within 15 judicial days of detention order | 15 court days after | Welf. & Inst. Code 657(a)(1); Cal. Rules of Court, rule 5.774(b), (d) |
| Delinquency jurisdiction hearing (not detained): begin within 30 calendar days of petition | 30 days after | Welf. & Inst. Code 657(a); Cal. Rules of Court, rule 5.774(a) |
| Delinquency jurisdiction hearing (warrant case, not detained): 30 days after initial appearance | 30 days after | Welf. & Inst. Code 657(a)(2) |
| Notice of delinquency hearing and petition (minor detained): at least 5 days before | 5 days before | Welf. & Inst. Code 660(a), (b) |
| Notice of delinquency hearing and petition (minor not detained): at least 10 days before | 10 days before | Welf. & Inst. Code 660(c) |
| Written motion to continue a delinquency hearing: filed and served at least 2 court days before | 2 court days before | Welf. & Inst. Code 682(a); Cal. Rules of Court, rules 5.550(b)(2), 5.776(a)(1) |
| Continued delinquency hearing must commence on the continued date or within 7 days thereafter | 7 days after | Welf. & Inst. Code 682(e) |
| Mandatory continuance for appointment/preparation of counsel: max 7 calendar days | 7 days after | Welf. & Inst. Code 700; Cal. Rules of Court, rule 5.776(b)(2) |
| Juvenile suppression motion (WIC 700.1): heard at least 5 judicial days after the People receive notice | 5 court days after | Welf. & Inst. Code 700.1 |
| Delinquency disposition (child detained): continuance max 10 judicial days | 10 court days after | Welf. & Inst. Code 702; Cal. Rules of Court, rule 5.782(a) |
| Delinquency disposition (not detained): no later than 30 days after PETITION filed | 30 days after | Welf. & Inst. Code 702; Cal. Rules of Court, rule 5.782(a) |
| Delinquency disposition (not detained), good cause: 30 + 15 days after petition filed | 45 days after | Welf. & Inst. Code 702; Cal. Rules of Court, rule 5.782(a) |
| Probation case plan filed: by disposition or 60 calendar days after initial removal, whichever first | 60 days after | Cal. Rules of Court, rule 5.785(c)(1) |
| Documentation of pre-removal services: no later than 60 days from detention | 60 days after | Welf. & Inst. Code 636(c) |
| Ward detained pending execution of disposition: review hearing at least every 15 days | 15 days after | Welf. & Inst. Code 737(b); Cal. Rules of Court, rule 5.790(h) |
| Notice of transfer (WIC 707) hearing: at least 5 judicial days before | 5 court days before | Cal. Rules of Court, rule 5.766(b) |
| Probation report for transfer hearing furnished at least 2 court days before | 2 court days before | Cal. Rules of Court, rule 5.768(c) |
| Notice of appeal from order transferring youth to criminal court: 30 days | 30 days after | Cal. Rules of Court, rules 8.406(a)(2)(A), 5.770(g)(1) |
| Writ petition challenging denial of transfer to criminal court: 20 days after order | 20 days after | Cal. Rules of Court, rule 5.770(g)(2) |
| Competency (WIC 709): additional expert's report disclosed at least 5 court days before hearing | 5 court days before | Welf. & Inst. Code 709(b) (paragraph (6)) |
| Competency remediation review (minor in custody): at least every 30 calendar days | 30 days after | Welf. & Inst. Code 709(g) |
| Competency remediation review (minor out of custody): at least every 45 calendar days | 45 days after | Welf. & Inst. Code 709 |
| Competency: evidentiary hearing on remediation within 6 months of receipt of recommendation | 6 months after | Welf. & Inst. Code 709(h)(1) |
| Ward in foster care: status review at least every 6 months from entry into foster care | 6 months after | Welf. & Inst. Code 727.2(c) |
| Ward in foster care: permanency planning hearing within 12 months of entry into foster care | 12 months after | Welf. & Inst. Code 727.3(a)(1) |
| Ward: permanency planning hearing within 30 days when no reunification services offered | 30 days after | Welf. & Inst. Code 727.2(b)(2) |
| Ward: continued permanency planning hearing within 18 months of original removal | 18 months after | Welf. & Inst. Code 727.3(b)(2) |
| Ward: adoption identified as plan, WIC 727.31 hearing within 120 days | 120 days after | Welf. & Inst. Code 727.3(b)(3) |
| Ward who may be a dependent: hearing to review CWS decision within 20 judicial days of order | 20 court days after | Welf. & Inst. Code 727.2(i)(3) |
| Psychotropic medication application (JV-220): child's opinion (JV-218) or statement (JV-219) | 4 court days after | Cal. Rules of Court, rule 5.640(c)(2)(B) |
| Psychotropic medication application: Input on Application (JV-222) by parent, counsel, GAL, or tribe | 4 court days after | Cal. Rules of Court, rule 5.640(c)(3) |
| Psychotropic medication application: court approves, denies, or sets hearing within 7 court days | 7 court days after | Cal. Rules of Court, rule 5.640(c)(8) |
| Psychotropic medication hearing: clerk gives notice of hearing | 2 court days before | Cal. Rules of Court, rule 5.640(c)(12) |
| Psychotropic medication authorization order expires 180 days after order | 180 days after | Cal. Rules of Court, rule 5.640(f) |
| Petition for access to juvenile case file (Welf. & Inst. Code 827; JV-570): serve before submitting to court | 10 days before | Cal. Rules of Court, rule 5.552(b)(1) |
| Dependency review: social worker provides caregiver recommendations and JV-290 form | 10 days before | Cal. Rules of Court, rule 5.534(k)(3) |
| Caregiver Information Form (JV-290) or letter: file in person (original plus 8 copies) | 5 days before | Cal. Rules of Court, rule 5.534(k)(4)(A) |
| Caregiver Information Form (JV-290) or letter: mail to clerk (original plus 8 copies) | 7 days before | Cal. Rules of Court, rule 5.534(k)(4)(B) |
Rules changelog · For developers: /api/deadlines?state=CA-JUV and the calculate_deadline tool in the 1Court MCP server.