Trust contest deadline: 120 days after trustee notification served (alternative 1)
120 days after date notification by trustee served on the person, under Cal. Prob. Code 16061.8.
Rule text
A person upon whom the notification by the trustee is served pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 16061.7, whether the notice is served on the person within or after the time period set forth in subdivision (f) of Section 16061.7, shall not bring an action to contest the trust more than 120 days from the date the notification by the trustee is served upon the person, or 60 days from the date on which a copy of the terms of the trust is delivered pursuant to Section 1215 to the person during that 120-day period, whichever is later.
Calculate this deadline
- Trigger (Date notification by trustee served on the person): Friday, November 6, 2026.
- Exclude the trigger day and count 120 calendar days: Saturday, March 6, 2027.
- That day is a Saturday, so the deadline moves to the next court day: Monday, March 8, 2027 (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).
Cal. Prob. Code 16061.8
A person upon whom the notification by the trustee is served pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 16061.7, whether the notice is served on the person within or after the time period set forth in subdivision (f) of Section 16061.7, shall not bring an action to contest the trust more than 120 days from the date the notification by the trustee is served upon the person, or 60 days from the date on which a copy of the terms of the trust is delivered pursuant to Section 1215 to the person during that 120-day period, whichever is later.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
- LATER-OF RULE with trust_contest_terms_delivered. Applies only to notifications served under 16061.7(a)(1) (settlor death/irrevocability). Mailed notification is complete on deposit (1215(a)(4)); no mail extension. Amended eff. 2023-01-01 (AB 1745).
- 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 notification by trustee served on the person on Monday, March 15, 2027, personal service: due Tuesday, July 13, 2027.
- Trigger (Date notification by trustee served on the person): Monday, March 15, 2027.
- Exclude the trigger day and count 120 calendar days: Tuesday, July 13, 2027.
Notes
LATER-OF RULE with trust_contest_terms_delivered. Applies only to notifications served under 16061.7(a)(1) (settlor death/irrevocability). Mailed notification is complete on deposit (1215(a)(4)); no mail extension. Amended eff. 2023-01-01 (AB 1745).
Related deadlines
- Notice of hearing on trust petition (Prob. Code 17200 petitions) (30 days before)
- Trustee notification (Prob. Code 16061.7): 60 days after triggering event (60 days after)
- Trustee notification to person not known at time of event: 60 days after trustee learns of them (60 days after)
- Trust contest deadline: 60 days after copy of trust terms delivered within the 120-day period (alternative 2) (60 days after)
- Breach of trust claim disclosed in written account or report: 3-year limitation (36 months after)
- Breach of trust claim not adequately disclosed (or no account): 3 years from discovery (36 months after)
- Trustee fee increase: written notice to beneficiaries at least 60 days before increased fee is charged (60 days before)
- Trustee fee increase notice received: beneficiary files and serves 17200 petition before the 60-day period expires to suspend the increase (60 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.