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: Lake 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 matterLake County: other local timing requirements
- Uncontested/no-notice ex parte requests submitted after 12:00 noon unlikely to be reviewed same day. Lake Local Rule 3.5(A)
- Contested ex parte hearings at 3:30 p.m. daily in Department 1; schedule with judicial assistant by 9:00 a.m. the preceding court day; papers to court at least 2 hours before hearing. Lake Local Rule 3.5(B)-(C)
- Family law emergency (ex parte) requests are decided on the papers; request deemed submitted 10:00 a.m. next court day if notice given before 10:00 a.m. prior court day (otherwise second court day); written opposition due by 10:00 a.m. on deemed-submission day. Lake Local Rule 5.9(F), (J)
- Family law meet and confer must occur before the hearing day. Lake Local Rule 5.2
- Family Centered Case Review: if initial pleadings not served and proof filed within 60 days of filing, attendance mandatory and LK-100 status report required; FL-141 before second case review conference. Lake Local Rule 5.8(A)(2)-(3)
- Law and motion pleadings requesting a hearing: leave hearing time blank; court assigns time slot. Court does not publish tentative rulings. Courtrooms and Holidays page, About Calendars
- Civil ex parte (contested, appearance required): copies of application/moving papers submitted no later than 2 hours before the scheduled 3:30 p.m. hearing. Lake Local Rule 3.5(C)
- Family law emergency requests: notice by mail is complete 5 calendar days after deposit (2 calendar days after carrier receipt for next-day delivery) for purposes of the deemed-submitted time. Lake Local Rule 5.9(G)
- Family law reconciliation: parties attempting reconciliation are relieved of case-plan standards, but if no dismissal or judgment is filed within 12 months of the petition the court sets a case review conference. Lake Local Rule 5.8(G)
- Probate (guardianship/conservatorship accountings): lodged confidential supporting documents not picked up or returned by SASE may be destroyed 45 days after the hearing. Lake Local Rule 6.9
- Small claims continuance after service: written request at least 10 days before the court date with $10 fee and notice to the other party. Not modeled: restates CCP 116.570(a)(1). Lake Local Rule 12.3
- Small claims: plaintiff who will miss the hearing must contact the court in writing before the hearing date to request a continuance, or the case is dismissed without prejudice. Lake Local Rule 12.4
- Unlawful detainer: cases pending and not set for trial 25 days after filing are set for a status conference; plaintiff's non-appearance may lead to dismissal. Lake Local Rule 13.2
- Electronic filing: paper courtesy copy due within 7 court days of e-filing for filings over 50 pages and summary judgment motions (and other listed categories). Lake Local Rule 20.7
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.