Answer to local child support agency (DCSS) simplified summons and complaint
30 days after date the simplified summons, complaint, proposed judgment, blank answer and blank income and expense declaration were served on the support obligor, under Cal. Fam. Code 17400(d)(2)(C) (version operative Jan. 1, 2026); 17430(a)(1)-(2) (version operative Jan. 1, 2026).
Rule text
17400(d)(2)(C): "The complaint form shall include a notice to the support obligor that the proposed judgment may become effective if the obligor fails to file an answer with the court within 30 days of the service." 17430(a)(1): "a judgment shall be entered without hearing ... upon the filing of proof of service by the local child support agency evidencing that more than 30 days have passed since the simplified summons and complaint, proposed judgment, blank answer, blank income and expense declaration, and all notices required by this division were served on the defendant."
Calculate this deadline
- Trigger (Date the simplified summons, complaint, proposed judgment, blank answer and blank income and expense declaration were served on the support obligor): Friday, November 6, 2026.
- Exclude the trigger day and count 30 calendar days: Sunday, December 6, 2026.
- That day is a Sunday, so the deadline moves to the next court day: Monday, December 7, 2026 (Cal. Code Civ. Proc. 12, 12a, 10; Cal. Rules of Court, rule 1.10 (applied in family law by Fam. Code 210)).
Cal. Fam. Code 17400(d)(2)(C) (version operative Jan. 1, 2026); 17430(a)(1)-(2) (version operative Jan. 1, 2026)
17400(d)(2)(C): "The complaint form shall include a notice to the support obligor that the proposed judgment may become effective if the obligor fails to file an answer with the court within 30 days of the service." 17430(a)(1): "a judgment shall be entered without hearing ... upon the filing of proof of service by the local child support agency evidencing that more than 30 days have passed since the simplified summons and complaint, proposed judgment, blank answer, blank income and expense declaration, and all notices required by this division were served on the defendant."Official source
Cal. Code Civ. Proc. 12, 12a, 10; Cal. Rules of Court, rule 1.10 (applied in family law by Fam. Code 210)
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.(b) This section applies to Sections 659, 659a, and 921, and to all other provisions of law providing or requiring an act to be performed on a particular day or within a specified period of time, whether expressed in this or any other code or statute, ordinance, rule, or regulation." 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." 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." Fam. Code 210: "Except to the extent that any other statute or rules adopted by the Judicial Council provide applicable rules, the rules of practice and procedure applicable to civil actions generally, including the provisions of Title 3a (commencing with Section 391) of Part 2 of the Code of Civil Procedure, apply to, and constitute the rules of practice and procedure in, proceedings under this code."Official source
- Two versions of 17400 and 17430 are on leginfo; the versions quoted are the ones operative January 1, 2026 (Stats. 2023, ch. 213 (SB 343); 17400 as amended by Stats. 2024, ch. 853 (AB 3281)). The prior versions are inoperative Jan. 1, 2026 and repealed Jan. 1, 2027. Answer must be FILED with the court within 30 days of service. Summons service is completed under the CCP service statutes (e.g., 415.20 substituted service completes on the 10th day after mailing; 415.30 on the date acknowledgment is executed); enter the date service was complete. No CCP 1013 extension applies to service of summons. 17430(a) applies to proposed judgments based on actual income; if the proposed judgment is based on earning capacity, the agency must instead file a motion for judgment (17400(d)(2)(D), 17430(b)), but the 30-day answer period still governs the obligor. Forward roll under CCP 12a. If an amended proposed judgment is served, see dcss_answer_after_amended_proposed_judgment.
- 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.
Worked example
Date the simplified summons, complaint, proposed judgment, blank answer and blank income and expense declaration were served on the support obligor on Monday, March 15, 2027, personal service: due Wednesday, April 14, 2027.
- Trigger (Date the simplified summons, complaint, proposed judgment, blank answer and blank income and expense declaration were served on the support obligor): Monday, March 15, 2027.
- Exclude the trigger day and count 30 calendar days: Wednesday, April 14, 2027.
Notes
Two versions of 17400 and 17430 are on leginfo; the versions quoted are the ones operative January 1, 2026 (Stats. 2023, ch. 213 (SB 343); 17400 as amended by Stats. 2024, ch. 853 (AB 3281)). The prior versions are inoperative Jan. 1, 2026 and repealed Jan. 1, 2027. Answer must be FILED with the court within 30 days of service. Summons service is completed under the CCP service statutes (e.g., 415.20 substituted service completes on the 10th day after mailing; 415.30 on the date acknowledgment is executed); enter the date service was complete. No CCP 1013 extension applies to service of summons. 17430(a) applies to proposed judgments based on actual income; if the proposed judgment is based on earning capacity, the agency must instead file a motion for judgment (17400(d)(2)(D), 17430(b)), but the 30-day answer period still governs the obligor. Forward roll under CCP 12a. If an amended proposed judgment is served, see dcss_answer_after_amended_proposed_judgment.
Related deadlines
- Response to petition for dissolution, legal separation, or nullity (30 days after)
- Amended petition or amended response after joint petition is revoked (30 days after)
- Respondent's request for order to quash proceeding (deadline) (30 days after)
- Response due after request to quash is denied (15 days after)
- Petitioner's request to quash affirmative relief in the response (15 days after)
- Answer after service of DCSS declaration and amended proposed judgment (30 days after)
- Child support retroactivity: serve obligor within 90 days after filing to preserve retroactivity to filing date (90 days after)
- Joined employee benefit plan: file and serve notice of appearance (30 days after)
Local rules by county
County local rules and courtroom procedures can add to or change this deadline. Pick a county to calculate with them applied.
- Alameda
- Alpine
- Amador
- Butte
- Calaveras
- Colusa
- Contra Costa
- Del Norte
- El Dorado
- Fresno
- Glenn
- Humboldt
- Imperial
- Inyo
- Kern
- Kings
- Lake
- Lassen
- Los Angeles
- Madera
- Marin
- Mariposa
- Mendocino
- Merced
- Modoc
- Mono
- Monterey
- Napa
- Nevada
- Orange
- Placer
- Plumas
- Riverside
- Sacramento
- San Benito
- San Bernardino
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Joaquin
- San Luis Obispo
- San Mateo
- Santa Barbara
- Santa Clara
- Santa Cruz
- Shasta
- Sierra
- Siskiyou
- Solano
- Sonoma
- Stanislaus
- Sutter
- Tehama
- Trinity
- Tulare
- Tuolumne
- Ventura
- Yolo
- Yuba
Rules current as of 2026-10-23. Confirm against the official source and any local rule or court order before relying on a date. Rules changelog.