Unaccepted draft (incl. ordinary check): 10 years after date of draft (whichever expires FIRST)
120 months after date of the draft, under Cal. Com. Code 3118(c).
Rule text
(c) Except as provided in subdivision (d), an action to enforce the obligation of a party to an unaccepted draft to pay the draft shall be commenced within three years after dishonor of the draft or 10 years after the date of the draft, whichever period expires first.
Calculate this deadline
- Trigger (Date of the draft): Friday, November 6, 2026.
- Add 120 months: Thursday, November 6, 2036.
Cal. Com. Code 3118(c)
(c) Except as provided in subdivision (d), an action to enforce the obligation of a party to an unaccepted draft to pay the draft shall be commenced within three years after dishonor of the draft or 10 years after the date of the draft, whichever period expires first.Official source
Cal. Code Civ. Proc. 12, 12a, 12b, 350
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 350: "An action is commenced, within the meaning of this Title, when the complaint is filed."Official source
- Alternative 2 of 2: whichever expires first of this and unaccepted_draft_3118c_3yr_dishonor. NOT APPLIED BY THE ENGINE: (1) accrual: the engine counts from the date you enter; the common-law discovery rule and delayed-accrual doctrines (Fox v. Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (2005) 35 Cal.4th 797; Norgart v. Upjohn Co. (1999) 21 Cal.4th 383), continuing-violation and continuous-accrual doctrines can move the start date, so enter the correct accrual date. (2) tolling: minority or lack of legal capacity (CCP 352), defendant's absence from California (CCP 351, limited by commerce-clause case law), imprisonment (CCP 352.1, max 2 years), equitable tolling, written waivers/tolling agreements (CCP 360.5), acknowledgment or part payment (CCP 360), bankruptcy (11 U.S.C. 108(c)), and Judicial Council Emergency Rule 9 (2020 Covid-19 tolling of civil limitations periods) are NOT applied. An action is commenced when the complaint is filed (CCP 350). Last day on a Saturday, Sunday or judicial holiday rolls to the next court day (CCP 12a; CCP 366.2(b)(1) confirms 12 and 12a apply to limitations periods).
- 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 of the draft on Monday, March 15, 2027, personal service: due Monday, March 16, 2037.
- Trigger (Date of the draft): Monday, March 15, 2027.
- Add 120 months: Sunday, March 15, 2037.
- That day is a Sunday, so the deadline moves to the next court day: Monday, March 16, 2037 (Cal. Code Civ. Proc. 12, 12a, 12b, 350).
Notes
Alternative 2 of 2: whichever expires first of this and unaccepted_draft_3118c_3yr_dishonor. NOT APPLIED BY THE ENGINE: (1) accrual: the engine counts from the date you enter; the common-law discovery rule and delayed-accrual doctrines (Fox v. Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (2005) 35 Cal.4th 797; Norgart v. Upjohn Co. (1999) 21 Cal.4th 383), continuing-violation and continuous-accrual doctrines can move the start date, so enter the correct accrual date. (2) tolling: minority or lack of legal capacity (CCP 352), defendant's absence from California (CCP 351, limited by commerce-clause case law), imprisonment (CCP 352.1, max 2 years), equitable tolling, written waivers/tolling agreements (CCP 360.5), acknowledgment or part payment (CCP 360), bankruptcy (11 U.S.C. 108(c)), and Judicial Council Emergency Rule 9 (2020 Covid-19 tolling of civil limitations periods) are NOT applied. An action is commenced when the complaint is filed (CCP 350). Last day on a Saturday, Sunday or judicial holiday rolls to the next court day (CCP 12a; CCP 366.2(b)(1) confirms 12 and 12a apply to limitations periods).
Related deadlines
- Depositor v. bank for paying forged or raised check or forged/unauthorized endorsement: 1 year (12 months after)
- Negotiable note payable at a definite time: 6 years after due date (72 months after)
- Demand note: 6 years after demand for payment (72 months after)
- Demand note with no demand made: barred after 10 years without payment (120 months after)
- Unaccepted draft (incl. ordinary check): 3 years after dishonor (whichever expires FIRST) (36 months after)
- Certified, cashier's, teller's or traveler's check: 3 years after demand (36 months after)
- Certificate of deposit: 6 years after demand (72 months after)
- Accepted draft payable at a definite time: 6 years after due date (72 months 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.