California court deadline calculator
Pick a deadline and enter the trigger date. The result applies Cal. Code Civ. Proc. 12, 12a, 12b, 10; Cal. Rules of Court, rule 1.10 (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: Kern County local rules are included below (marked with the court name), layered on these base rules. Small claims division of the California superior court under the Small Claims Act (CCP 116.110-116.950) and small claims appeal rules (CRC 8.950-8.966). Jurisdictional amount limits, fee schedules other than as quoted, and enforcement procedures under the Enforcement of Judgments Law (CCP 680.010 et seq.) are not modeled.. Rules current as of 2026-10-23.
- Trigger (Date of the clerk's order setting the hearing): Friday, November 6, 2026.
- Exclude the trigger day and count 20 calendar days: Thursday, November 26, 2026.
- That day is a Thanksgiving Day, so the deadline moves to the next court day: Monday, November 30, 2026 (Cal. Code Civ. Proc. 12, 12a, 12b, 10; Cal. Rules of Court, rule 1.10).
Cal. Code Civ. Proc. 116.330(a)
When a claim is filed, the clerk shall schedule the case for hearing and shall issue an order directing the parties to appear at the time set for the hearing with witnesses and documents to prove their claim or defense. The case shall be scheduled for hearing no earlier than 20 days but not more than 70 days from the date of the order.Official source
Cal. Code Civ. Proc. 12, 12a, 12b, 10; Cal. Rules of Court, rule 1.10
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
- Court-facing. Useful to check whether a scheduled date complies.
- 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 matterKern County: other local timing requirements
- Attorney running late must submit the online Attorney Late Form before 8:20 a.m. on the morning of the appearance; later emergencies by phone. Kern Super. Ct. Local Rule 1.1.2
- Requested jury instructions (civil and criminal) are submitted on the day the jury is sworn unless the trial judge orders otherwise; completed verdict forms required. Kern Super. Ct. Local Rule 1.4.2
- Fax filings received after 5:00 p.m. or on court holidays are deemed filed the next court day. Kern Super. Ct. Local Rule 1.9(a)
- Civil ex parte: must be pre-cleared with the Clerk; all papers filed by 12:00 p.m. the court day before the hearing (notice by 10:00 a.m. the court day before per CRC 3.1203). Kern Super. Ct. Local Rule 3.4(a), (b)
- Fast Track law and motion hearing dates in the Metropolitan Division must be pre-cleared and reserved by phone. Kern Super. Ct. Local Rule 3.3.1
- Family status conference: arrange and pay for CourtCall telephonic appearance at least 10 calendar days before. Kern Super. Ct. Local Rule 6.8.1
- Family Court Services: subpoenas should be served at least 10 calendar days before the hearing. Kern Super. Ct. Local Rule 6.11(j)
- Traffic infraction: on a written not-guilty declaration with bail, the clerk sets arraignment and trial on the same date, 30 to 45 days after receipt of the declaration unless time is waived. Kern Super. Ct. Local Rule 4.2
- Traffic law and motion: motions comply with CRC 4.111 and are heard 10 days from the filing date. Kern Super. Ct. Local Rule 4.3
- Juvenile ex parte: written opposition presented to the courtroom clerk within 48 hours of receipt of notice; request heard no sooner than 48 hours after submission unless no objection. Kern Super. Ct. Local Rule 7.0.1(b)
- Juvenile: child's attorney reports in writing at least every six months on non-dependency litigation involving the child. Kern Super. Ct. Local Rule 7.17(f)
- Probate: stipulated continuances require court approval and cannot be for less than 7 calendar days. Kern Super. Ct. Local Rule 8.3.2.2
- Guardianship and conservatorship: parties and attorneys inform the court of address changes (theirs or the ward's/conservatee's) within 30 days (overlaps Prob. Code 2352(e), already statewide). Kern Super. Ct. Local Rule 8.10.5; 8.11.3
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.
California small claims deadlines covered
Rules changelog · For developers: /api/deadlines?state=CA-SC and the calculate_deadline tool in the 1Court MCP server.