Probate citation: serve at least 5 days before the return day (unless another statute provides)
5 days before return day stated in the citation, under Cal. Prob. Code 1242.
Rule text
The citation shall be served on the person cited in the manner provided in Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 413.10) of Title 5 of Part 2 of the Code of Civil Procedure. Except as otherwise provided by statute, the citation shall be served at least five days before its return day.
Calculate this deadline
- Trigger (Return day stated in the citation): Friday, November 6, 2026.
- Count back 5 calendar days: Sunday, November 1, 2026.
- That day is a Sunday. Counting backward, this calculator uses the earlier court day so the full notice period is preserved: Friday, October 30, 2026 (see Cal. Code Civ. Proc. 12c).
Cal. Prob. Code 1242
The citation shall be served on the person cited in the manner provided in Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 413.10) of Title 5 of Part 2 of the Code of Civil Procedure. Except as otherwise provided by statute, the citation shall be served at least five days before its return day.Official source
Cal. Code Civ. Proc. 12, 12a, 12b, 10, 17(b)(4), applied to probate proceedings by Prob. Code 1000; 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." CCP 17(b)(4): "“Month” means a calendar month, unless otherwise expressed." Prob. Code 1000(a): "Except to the extent that this code provides applicable rules, the rules of practice applicable to civil actions, including discovery proceedings and proceedings under Title 3a (commencing with Section 391) of Part 2 of the Code of Civil Procedure, apply to, and constitute the rules of practice in, proceedings under this code."Official source
- Counting backward from a hearing or trial, when the day lands on a weekend or holiday we use the earlier court day. The rules do not state the direction expressly; confirm with the court.
- Default rule; specific statutes control (e.g., conservatorship citation 15 days, 1824, already in set). Summons-style service, no mail extension. Enacted by Stats. 1990, ch. 79.
- 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
Return day stated in the citation on Monday, March 15, 2027, personal service: due Wednesday, March 10, 2027.
- Trigger (Return day stated in the citation): Monday, March 15, 2027.
- Count back 5 calendar days: Wednesday, March 10, 2027.
Notes
Default rule; specific statutes control (e.g., conservatorship citation 15 days, 1824, already in set). Summons-style service, no mail extension. Enacted by Stats. 1990, ch. 79.
Related deadlines
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.