Earliest court day to request entry of default (no response filed)

11 court days after date service of the ud summons and complaint is complete (see ud_response summons_service), under Cal. Code Civ. Proc. 1169, 1167.

Rule text

If, at the time appointed, any defendant served with a summons does not appear and defend, the clerk, upon written application of the plaintiff and proof of the service of summons and complaint, shall enter the default of any defendant so served, and, if requested by the plaintiff, immediately shall enter judgment for restitution of the premises and shall issue a writ of execution thereon.

Cal. Code Civ. Proc. 1169, 1167, official source

Calculate this deadline

DeadlineHow was the summons served?Enter the date of personal delivery

Deadline

Tuesday, November 24, 2026

Trigger (Date service of the UD summons and complaint is complete (see ud_response summons_service)): Friday, November 6, 2026.
Personal delivery: service is complete on that date (Cal. Code Civ. Proc. 415.10, 1167(a)).
Count 11 court days (Saturdays, Sundays, and court holidays are not counted): Tuesday, November 24, 2026.

Rules applied

Cal. Code Civ. Proc. 1169, 1167

If, at the time appointed, any defendant served with a summons does not appear and defend, the clerk, upon written application of the plaintiff and proof of the service of summons and complaint, shall enter the default of any defendant so served, and, if requested by the plaintiff, immediately shall enter judgment for restitution of the premises and shall issue a writ of execution thereon.

Official source

Cal. Code Civ. Proc. 12, 12a, 12b, 10; 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."

Official source

Cal. Code Civ. Proc. 415.10, 1167(a)

Service of a summons in this manner is deemed complete at the time of such delivery.

Official source

Derived rule: the response is due on the 10th court day (1167(a)); default may be requested on the next court day, i.e., the 11th court day after completion of service, or the 16th court day where 1167(b) adds 5 court days. A response filed late but before default is entered generally prevents default; check the docket the morning of the request. Same 415.20/415.45 ambiguity as ud_response: a cautious plaintiff should add the 5 court days.
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.

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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 service of the UD summons and complaint is complete (see ud_response summons_service) on Monday, March 15, 2027, personal service: due Tuesday, March 30, 2027.

Trigger (Date service of the UD summons and complaint is complete (see ud_response summons_service)): Monday, March 15, 2027.
Personal delivery: service is complete on that date (Cal. Code Civ. Proc. 415.10, 1167(a)).
Count 11 court days (Saturdays, Sundays, and court holidays are not counted): Tuesday, March 30, 2027.

Unsettled points

The calculator gives a UD defendant no extra days for substituted or posted service, and the default rule note tells plaintiffs to wait the extra 5 court days.Other reading: If those methods are 'completed by mail' under 1167(b), the response is due 5 court days later.

Notes

Derived rule: the response is due on the 10th court day (1167(a)); default may be requested on the next court day, i.e., the 11th court day after completion of service, or the 16th court day where 1167(b) adds 5 court days. A response filed late but before default is entered generally prevents default; check the docket the morning of the request. Same 415.20/415.45 ambiguity as ud_response: a cautious plaintiff should add the 5 court days.

Related deadlines

Response to UD complaint (answer, demurrer, motion to strike) (10 court days after)
Answer or amend after ruling on UD demurrer (5 days after)
Prejudgment claim of right to possession: last day for occupant to file (10 days after)
Claimant's response to UD complaint after filing prejudgment claim (5 days after)
Claimant named as defendant after valid post-judgment claim: response (5 days after)
UD: plead within 5 days after service of written notice of entry of order denying motion to quash (5 days after)
UD: maximum extension of time to plead without adverse party's consent (10 days) (10 days after)

All California evictions deadlines

Local rules by county

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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.