Fire/property policy appraisal: if the appraisers fail for 15 days to agree on an umpire, either side may ask a judge to select one
15 days after date both appraisers were selected (appraisal request accepted), under Cal. Ins. Code 2071(a) (standard form, Appraisal).
Rule text
the appraisers shall first select a competent and disinterested umpire; and failing for 15 days to agree upon the umpire, then, on request of the insured or this company, the umpire shall be selected by a judge of a court of record in the state in which the property covered is located.
Cal. Ins. Code 2071(a) (standard form, Appraisal), official source
Calculate this deadline
Deadline
Monday, November 23, 2026
- Trigger (Date both appraisers were selected (appraisal request accepted)): Friday, November 6, 2026.
- Exclude the trigger day and count 15 calendar days: Saturday, November 21, 2026.
- That day is a Saturday, but this date is fixed by the rule and does not move: Saturday, November 21, 2026.
- The period includes its last day, so the earliest day to act is the next court day: Monday, November 23, 2026.
Rules applied
Cal. Ins. Code 2071(a) (standard form, Appraisal)
the appraisers shall first select a competent and disinterested umpire; and failing for 15 days to agree upon the umpire, then, on request of the insured or this company, the umpire shall be selected by a judge of a court of record in the state in which the property covered is located.Official source
Cal. Code Civ. Proc. 12, 12a, 12b; Cal. Gov. Code 6800, 6707 (state agency filings); Fed. R. Civ. P. 6(a) (federal statutes and federal court filings)
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." Gov. Code 6707: "When the last day for filing any instrument or other document with a state agency falls upon a Saturday or holiday, such act may be performed upon the next business day with the same effect as if it had been performed upon the day appointed." FRCP 6(a): "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) ... (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."Official source
- Earliest date to petition the court for an umpire. AMBIGUITY: the statute does not say when the 15 days start; modeled from the date both appraisers were named.
- 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 both appraisers were selected (appraisal request accepted) on Monday, March 15, 2027, personal service: due Wednesday, March 31, 2027.
- Trigger (Date both appraisers were selected (appraisal request accepted)): Monday, March 15, 2027.
- Exclude the trigger day and count 15 calendar days: Tuesday, March 30, 2027.
- The period includes its last day, so the earliest day to act is the next court day: Wednesday, March 31, 2027.
Notes
Earliest date to petition the court for an umpire. AMBIGUITY: the statute does not say when the 15 days start; modeled from the date both appraisers were named.
Related deadlines
- Fire/standard-form property policy: sworn proof of loss due within 60 days after the loss (unless extended in writing by insurer) (60 days after)
- Fire policy: mortgagee proof of loss within 60 days after notice of insured's failure to render proof (60 days after)
- Fire/property claim: insurer must provide claim-related documents within 15 calendar days after insured's request (15 days after)
- Property claim after covered loss: insurer must provide complete policy copy within 30 calendar days after request (30 days after)
- Fire/property policy appraisal: each side must select an appraiser and notify the other within 20 days of the written appraisal request (20 days after)
- Fire/property policy: insurer must give notice of election to repair, rebuild or replace within 30 days after receipt of proof of loss (30 days after)
- Fire/property policy: loss payable 60 days after proof of loss received and loss ascertained (agreement or appraisal award filed) (60 days after)
- Fire insurance: payment due within 30 days after amount of loss and liability agreed in writing; interest from day 31 (30 days after)
Rules current as of 2026-10-27. Confirm against the official source and any local rule or court order before relying on a date. Rules changelog.