Civ. Code 48a: publisher's correction must appear in a regular issue or broadcast within 3 weeks after service of the demand
21 days after date the correction demand was served on the publisher or broadcaster, under Cal. Civ. Code 48a(b).
Rule text
(b) If a correction is demanded within 20 days and is not published or broadcast in substantially as conspicuous a manner in the same daily or weekly news publication, or on the same broadcasting station as were the statements claimed to be libelous, in a regular issue thereof published or broadcast within three weeks after service, plaintiff, if he or she pleads and proves notice, demand and failure to correct, and if his or her cause of action is maintained, may recover general, special, and exemplary damages.
Calculate this deadline
Deadline
Friday, November 27, 2026
- Trigger (Date the correction demand was served on the publisher or broadcaster): Friday, November 6, 2026.
- Exclude the trigger day and count 21 calendar days: Friday, November 27, 2026.
- That day is a Day after Thanksgiving, but this date is fixed by the rule and does not move: Friday, November 27, 2026.
Rules applied
Cal. Civ. Code 48a(b)
(b) If a correction is demanded within 20 days and is not published or broadcast in substantially as conspicuous a manner in the same daily or weekly news publication, or on the same broadcasting station as were the statements claimed to be libelous, in a regular issue thereof published or broadcast within three weeks after service, plaintiff, if he or she pleads and proves notice, demand and failure to correct, and if his or her cause of action is maintained, may recover general, special, and exemplary damages.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
- Three weeks = 21 days. If no adequate correction appears by this date, general and (with actual malice) exemplary damages become available. roll 'none': the period is a publication window measured in weeks, not a filing deadline.
- 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 correction demand was served on the publisher or broadcaster on Monday, March 15, 2027, personal service: due Monday, April 5, 2027.
- Trigger (Date the correction demand was served on the publisher or broadcaster): Monday, March 15, 2027.
- Exclude the trigger day and count 21 calendar days: Monday, April 5, 2027.
Notes
Three weeks = 21 days. If no adequate correction appears by this date, general and (with actual malice) exemplary damages become available. roll 'none': the period is a publication window measured in weeks, not a filing deadline.
Related deadlines
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.