Federal court deadline calculator
Pick a deadline and enter the trigger date. The result applies Fed. R. Civ. P. 6(a); Fed. R. App. P. 26(a) (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: Base national rules only, as in force on 2026-10-23: Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (pamphlet as amended to December 1, 2025), Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure (as amended to December 1, 2025), Rules of the Supreme Court (effective March 16, 2026; Rule 13 only), and 28 U.S.C. 1292(b), 1446, 1447, 1453, 2101(c), 2107. NO LOCAL RULES, standing orders, or circuit rules: these frequently change motion briefing, appellate briefing, costs, and rehearing deadlines, and a scheduling order overrides most default discovery and pretrial deadlines. No FRCP or FRAP rule-text amendments take effect December 1, 2026 (only Appellate Form 4 among civil and appellate items); proposed amendments to FRCP 26 and 81 (December 1, 2027) and FRCP 5 and 6 (December 1, 2028) are NOT in force. Bankruptcy, criminal, habeas, agency-review, and Court of Federal Claims deadlines are excluded. SOURCES: FRCP Rules 4, 5, 6, 12, and 14 quoted from the uscourts.gov pamphlet; other FRCP rules from the official U.S. Code 2024 edition (govinfo.gov, Title 28 Appendix), checked word for word; FRAP 4 to 12 from the uscourts.gov December 1, 2024 pamphlet (those rules were not amended later); FRAP 26 to 41 from the U.S. Code 2024 edition; FRAP 39 (amended December 1, 2025) from the Supreme Court order in the 2025 Congressional Rules Package. uscode.house.gov did not load during research, so statutes come from the govinfo.gov U.S. Code 2023 and 2024 editions. TYPOGRAPHY: em dashes in the official text are rendered as "--"; no words were changed.. Rules current as of 2026-10-23.
Deadline
Friday, November 13, 2026
- Trigger (Date the defendant was served with the summons and complaint): Friday, October 23, 2026.
- Exclude the trigger day and count 21 calendar days: Friday, November 13, 2026.
Rules applied
Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(a)(1)(A)(i)
(a) Time to Serve a Responsive Pleading. Unless another time is specified by a federal statute, the time for serving a responsive pleading is as follows: (1) In General. (A) A defendant must serve an answer: (i) within 21 days after being served with the summons and complaint; or (ii) if it has timely waived service under Rule 4(d), within 60 days after the request for a waiver was sent, or within 90 days after it was sent to the defendant outside any judicial district of the United States.Official source
Fed. R. Civ. P. 6(a); Fed. R. App. P. 26(a)
(a) Computing Time. The following rules apply in computing any time period specified in these rules, in any local rule or court order, or in any statute that does not specify a method of computing time. (1) Period Stated in Days or a Longer Unit. When the period is stated in days or a longer unit of time: (A) exclude the day of the event that triggers the period; (B) count every day, including intermediate Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays; and (C) include the last day of the period, but if the last day is a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, the period continues to run until the end of the next day that is not a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday. (2) Period Stated in Hours. When the period is stated in hours: (A) begin counting immediately on the occurrence of the event that triggers the period; (B) count every hour, including hours during intermediate Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays; and (C) if the period would end on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, the period continues to run until the same time on the next day that is not a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday. (3) Inaccessibility of the Clerk's Office. Unless the court orders otherwise, if the clerk's office is inaccessible: (A) on the last day for filing under Rule 6(a)(1), then the time for filing is extended to the first accessible day that is not a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday; or (B) during the last hour for filing under Rule 6(a)(2), then the time for filing is extended to the same time on the first accessible day that is not a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday. (4) "Last Day" Defined. Unless a different time is set by a statute, local rule, or court order, the last day ends: (A) for electronic filing, at midnight in the court's time zone; and (B) for filing by other means, when the clerk's office is scheduled to close. (5) "Next Day" Defined. The "next day" is determined by continuing to count forward when the period is measured after an event and backward when measured before an event. (6) "Legal Holiday" Defined. "Legal holiday" means: (A) the day set aside by statute for observing New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr.'s Birthday, Washington's Birthday, Memorial Day, Juneteenth National Independence Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans' Day, Thanksgiving Day, or Christmas Day; (B) any day declared a holiday by the President or Congress; and (C) for periods that are measured after an event, any other day declared a holiday by the state where the district court is located. || FRAP 26(a)(1)-(3) and (5) are the same as FRCP 6(a)(1)-(3) and (5) (with internal cross-references to Rule 26). FRAP 26(a)(4) and (6) differ: (4) "Last Day" Defined. Unless a different time is set by a statute, local rule, or court order, the last day ends: (A) for electronic filing in the district court, at midnight in the court's time zone; (B) for electronic filing in the court of appeals, at midnight in the time zone of the circuit clerk's principal office; (C) for filing under Rules 4(c)(1), 25(a)(2)(A)(ii), and 25(a)(2)(A)(iii)--and filing by mail under Rule 13(a)(2)--at the latest time for the method chosen for delivery to the post office, third-party commercial carrier, or prison mailing system; and (D) for filing by other means, when the clerk's office is scheduled to close. ... (6) "Legal Holiday" Defined. "Legal holiday" means: (A) the day set aside by statute for observing New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr.'s Birthday, Washington's Birthday, Memorial Day, Juneteenth National Independence Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans' Day, Thanksgiving Day, or Christmas Day; (B) any day declared a holiday by the President or Congress; and (C) for periods that are measured after an event, any other day declared a holiday by the state where either of the following is located: the district court that rendered the challenged judgment or order, or the circuit clerk's principal office.Official source
- Service of the summons and complaint is made under Rule 4, not Rule 5(b), so Rule 6(d) adds no days. A Rule 12 motion (12(b), (e), or (f)) served within this period suspends the answer deadline; see answer_after_rule12_motion_denied. Rule 12(b): "A motion asserting any of these defenses must be made before pleading if a responsive pleading is allowed." There is no separate day count for a Rule 12(b) motion; as a practical matter it must be filed by this answer deadline. 'Unless another time is specified by a federal statute': some federal statutes set different response times. Removed cases: see the answer_after_removal rules (Rule 81(c)(2)).
- 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.
Federal civil and appellate deadlines covered
| Deadline | Period | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Answer to complaint (served with summons) | 21 days after | Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(a)(1)(A)(i) |
| Answer after waiver of service (defendant in a U.S. judicial district) | 60 days after | Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(a)(1)(A)(ii); 4(d)(3) |
| Answer after waiver of service (request sent outside any U.S. judicial district) | 90 days after | Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(a)(1)(A)(ii); 4(d)(3) |
| Answer by the United States, a U.S. agency, or officer/employee sued in official capacity | 60 days after | Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(a)(2) |
| Answer by U.S. officer or employee sued in individual capacity (duties on U.S. behalf) | 60 days after | Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(a)(3) |
| Answer to counterclaim or crossclaim | 21 days after | Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(a)(1)(B) |
| Reply to an answer (only when the court orders a reply) | 21 days after | Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(a)(1)(C) |
| Responsive pleading after Rule 12 motion is denied or postponed | 14 days after | Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(a)(4)(A) |
| Responsive pleading after a more definite statement is served | 14 days after | Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(a)(4)(B) |
| Serve more definite statement after court order | 14 days after | Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(e) |
| Motion to strike when no response to the pleading is allowed | 21 days after | Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(f)(2) |
| Amend pleading once as a matter of course (pleading needing no response) | 21 days after | Fed. R. Civ. P. 15(a)(1)(A) |
| Amend as a matter of course: 21 days after service of responsive pleading | 21 days after | Fed. R. Civ. P. 15(a)(1)(B) |
| Amend as a matter of course: 21 days after service of Rule 12(b), (e), or (f) motion | 21 days after | Fed. R. Civ. P. 15(a)(1)(B) |
| Response to amended pleading (14-day alternative) | 14 days after | Fed. R. Civ. P. 15(a)(3) |
| Third-party complaint without leave of court | 14 days after | Fed. R. Civ. P. 14(a)(1) |
| Jury demand | 14 days after | Fed. R. Civ. P. 38(b) |
| Notice of removal: 30 days after receipt of initial pleading | 30 days after | 28 U.S.C. 1446(b)(1) |
| Notice of removal: 30 days after service of summons (pleading on file, not required to be served) | 30 days after | 28 U.S.C. 1446(b)(1) |
| Notice of removal after case first becomes removable (amended pleading or other paper) | 30 days after | 28 U.S.C. 1446(b)(3) |
| Outside limit for removal based on diversity under 1446(b)(3) | 12 months after | 28 U.S.C. 1446(c)(1) |
| Motion to remand for any defect other than lack of subject-matter jurisdiction | 30 days after | 28 U.S.C. 1447(c) |
| Answer after removal: 21 days after receiving initial pleading | 21 days after | Fed. R. Civ. P. 81(c)(2)(A) |
| Answer after removal: 21 days after service of summons | 21 days after | Fed. R. Civ. P. 81(c)(2)(B) |
| Answer after removal: 7 days after notice of removal filed | 7 days after | Fed. R. Civ. P. 81(c)(2)(C) |
| Jury demand after removal (removing party) | 14 days after | Fed. R. Civ. P. 81(c)(3)(B)(i) |
| Jury demand after removal (party served with notice of removal) | 14 days after | Fed. R. Civ. P. 81(c)(3)(B)(ii) |
| Application to court of appeals to appeal order granting or denying remand of class action (CAFA) | 10 days after | 28 U.S.C. 1453(c)(1) |
| Serve summons and complaint (Rule 4(m)) | 90 days after | Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(m) |
| Scheduling order due (court): 90 days after any defendant served | 90 days after | Fed. R. Civ. P. 16(b)(2) |
| Scheduling order due (court): 60 days after any defendant appeared | 60 days after | Fed. R. Civ. P. 16(b)(2) |
| Rule 26(f) discovery conference (latest date) | 21 days before | Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(f)(1) |
| Rule 26(f) written report / proposed discovery plan | 14 days after | Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(f)(2) |
| Initial disclosures (Rule 26(a)(1)) | 14 days after | Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(a)(1)(C) |
| Initial disclosures by party served or joined after the Rule 26(f) conference | 30 days after | Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(a)(1)(D) |
| Expert disclosures (default, absent order or stipulation) | 90 days before | Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(a)(2)(D)(i) |
| Rebuttal expert disclosures (default) | 30 days after | Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(a)(2)(D)(ii) |
| Pretrial disclosures (Rule 26(a)(3)) | 30 days before | Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(a)(3)(B) |
| Objections to pretrial disclosures | 14 days after | Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(a)(3)(B) |
| Answers and objections to interrogatories | 30 days after | Fed. R. Civ. P. 33(b)(2) |
| Response to Rule 34 requests for production | 30 days after | Fed. R. Civ. P. 34(b)(2)(A) |
| Response to early Rule 34 requests delivered before the Rule 26(f) conference | 30 days after | Fed. R. Civ. P. 34(b)(2)(A); 26(d)(2)(B) |
| Answers or objections to requests for admission | 30 days after | Fed. R. Civ. P. 36(a)(3) |
| Serve written motion and notice of hearing (default) | 14 days before | Fed. R. Civ. P. 6(c)(1) |
| Serve opposing affidavit (default) | 7 days before | Fed. R. Civ. P. 6(c)(2) |
| Last day to file summary judgment motion (default) | 30 days after | Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(b) |
| Objections to magistrate judge's nondispositive order | 14 days after | Fed. R. Civ. P. 72(a) |
| Objections to magistrate judge's report and recommendation | 14 days after | Fed. R. Civ. P. 72(b)(2) |
| Response to another party's objections to report and recommendation | 14 days after | Fed. R. Civ. P. 72(b)(2) |
| Renewed motion for judgment as a matter of law (Rule 50(b)) | 28 days after | Fed. R. Civ. P. 50(b) |
| Renewed JMOL on a jury issue not decided by a verdict | 28 days after | Fed. R. Civ. P. 50(b) |
| New-trial motion by party against whom JMOL is rendered (Rule 50(d)) | 28 days after | Fed. R. Civ. P. 50(d) |
| Motion to amend or make additional findings (Rule 52(b)) | 28 days after | Fed. R. Civ. P. 52(b) |
| Motion for new trial (Rule 59(b)) | 28 days after | Fed. R. Civ. P. 59(b) |
| Opposing affidavits on new-trial motion | 14 days after | Fed. R. Civ. P. 59(c) |
| Motion to alter or amend judgment (Rule 59(e)) | 28 days after | Fed. R. Civ. P. 59(e) |
| Motion for relief from judgment under Rule 60(b)(1), (2), or (3): outside limit | 12 months after | Fed. R. Civ. P. 60(c)(1) |
| Motion for court review of clerk's taxation of costs | 7 days after | Fed. R. Civ. P. 54(d)(1) |
| Motion for attorney's fees (Rule 54(d)(2)) | 14 days after | Fed. R. Civ. P. 54(d)(2)(B)(i) |
| Automatic stay of execution expires (Rule 62(a)) | 30 days after | Fed. R. Civ. P. 62(a) |
| Notice of appeal (civil) | 30 days after | Fed. R. App. P. 4(a)(1)(A); 28 U.S.C. 2107(a) |
| Notice of appeal when the United States (or agency/officer) is a party | 60 days after | Fed. R. App. P. 4(a)(1)(B); 28 U.S.C. 2107(b) |
| Notice of appeal by another party after a first notice (14-day alternative) | 14 days after | Fed. R. App. P. 4(a)(3) |
| Motion to extend time to file notice of appeal (FRAP 4(a)(5)) | 30 days after | Fed. R. App. P. 4(a)(5)(A)(i); 28 U.S.C. 2107(c) |
| Extended notice-of-appeal deadline cap: 30 days after the prescribed time | 30 days after | Fed. R. App. P. 4(a)(5)(C) |
| Extended notice-of-appeal deadline cap: 14 days after order granting extension | 14 days after | Fed. R. App. P. 4(a)(5)(C) |
| Motion to reopen time to appeal: 180 days after entry | 180 days after | Fed. R. App. P. 4(a)(6)(B); 28 U.S.C. 2107(c) |
| Motion to reopen time to appeal: 14 days after receiving notice of entry | 14 days after | Fed. R. App. P. 4(a)(6)(B) |
| Notice of appeal after time is reopened | 14 days after | Fed. R. App. P. 4(a)(6) |
| Answer in opposition or cross-petition to petition for permission to appeal | 10 days after | Fed. R. App. P. 5(b)(2) |
| Petition for permission to appeal interlocutory order certified under 28 U.S.C. 1292(b) | 10 days after | 28 U.S.C. 1292(b); Fed. R. App. P. 5(a)(2) |
| Order transcript (or certify none will be ordered) | 14 days after | Fed. R. App. P. 10(b)(1) |
| Representation statement | 14 days after | Fed. R. App. P. 12(b) |
| Appellant's principal brief | 40 days after | Fed. R. App. P. 31(a)(1) |
| Appellee's brief | 30 days after | Fed. R. App. P. 31(a)(1) |
| Appellant's reply brief (21 days after service of appellee's brief) | 21 days after | Fed. R. App. P. 31(a)(1) |
| Reply brief: latest date before oral argument | 7 days before | Fed. R. App. P. 31(a)(1) |
| Cross-appeal: appellee's principal and response brief | 30 days after | Fed. R. App. P. 28.1(f)(2) |
| Cross-appeal: appellant's response and reply brief | 30 days after | Fed. R. App. P. 28.1(f)(3) |
| Cross-appeal: appellee's reply brief | 21 days after | Fed. R. App. P. 28.1(f)(4) |
| Deferred appendix (only where the court allows deferral) | 21 days after | Fed. R. App. P. 30(c)(1) |
| Petition for panel rehearing or rehearing en banc | 14 days after | Fed. R. App. P. 40(d)(1) |
| Petition for rehearing in civil case where the United States is a party | 45 days after | Fed. R. App. P. 40(d)(1) |
| Mandate issues (no rehearing petition filed) | 7 days after | Fed. R. App. P. 41(b) |
| Mandate issues after denial of rehearing or stay of mandate | 7 days after | Fed. R. App. P. 41(b) |
| Bill of costs in the court of appeals | 14 days after | Fed. R. App. P. 39(e)(3)(A) |
| Objections to bill of costs in the court of appeals | 14 days after | Fed. R. App. P. 39(e)(3)(B) |
| Motion to reconsider allocation of appellate costs | 14 days after | Fed. R. App. P. 39(b) |
| Petition for writ of certiorari to the U.S. Supreme Court | 90 days after | Sup. Ct. R. 13.1, 13.3; 28 U.S.C. 2101(c) |
| Application to extend time to file certiorari petition | 10 days before | Sup. Ct. R. 13.5; Sup. Ct. R. 30.2 |
For developers: /api/deadlines?state=US and the calculate_deadline tool in the 1Court MCP server.