Discovery cutoff (complete discovery)
30 days before date initially set for trial, under Cal. Code Civ. Proc. 2024.020(a); 2016.060.
Rule text
Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, any party shall be entitled as a matter of right to complete discovery proceedings on or before the 30th day, and to have motions concerning discovery heard on or before the 15th day, before the date initially set for the trial of the action.
Calculate this deadline
- Trigger (Date INITIALLY set for trial): Friday, November 6, 2026.
- Count back 30 calendar days: Wednesday, October 7, 2026.
Cal. Code Civ. Proc. 2024.020(a); 2016.060
Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, any party shall be entitled as a matter of right to complete discovery proceedings on or before the 30th day, and to have motions concerning discovery heard on or before the 15th day, before the date initially set for the trial of the action.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
- CCP 2016.060: if the last day falls on a weekend or holiday, it is extended to the next court day closer to the trial date. Many practitioners still treat the earlier court day as the safe date. Measured from the trial date INITIALLY set; a continuance does not reopen discovery (2024.020(b)) unless the court orders otherwise (2024.050). Roll: CCP 2016.060 'the time limit is extended until the next court day closer to the trial date' (i.e., later, toward the trial date). Practical consequence: discovery must be served early enough that responses are due by the cutoff (e.g., written discovery served by mail 30+5 days before the cutoff).
- 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 INITIALLY set for trial on Monday, March 15, 2027, personal service: due Tuesday, February 16, 2027.
- Trigger (Date INITIALLY set for trial): Monday, March 15, 2027.
- Count back 30 calendar days: Saturday, February 13, 2027.
- That day is a Saturday, so the deadline moves to the next court day closer to the event, per the rule cited for this deadline: Tuesday, February 16, 2027.
Notes
CCP 2016.060: if the last day falls on a weekend or holiday, it is extended to the next court day closer to the trial date. Many practitioners still treat the earlier court day as the safe date. Measured from the trial date INITIALLY set; a continuance does not reopen discovery (2024.020(b)) unless the court orders otherwise (2024.050). Roll: CCP 2016.060 'the time limit is extended until the next court day closer to the trial date' (i.e., later, toward the trial date). Practical consequence: discovery must be served early enough that responses are due by the cutoff (e.g., written discovery served by mail 30+5 days before the cutoff).
Related deadlines
- Responses to interrogatories (30 days after)
- Responses to requests for production (inspection demands) (30 days after)
- Responses to requests for admission (30 days after)
- Unlawful detainer: responses to interrogatories, inspection demands, requests for admission (5 days after)
- Motion to compel further responses (interrogatories, inspection demands, RFAs) (45 days after)
- Discovery motion cutoff (last day for hearing) (15 days before)
- Demand for exchange of expert witness information: last day (70 days before)
- Expert witness exchange date (50 days before)
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 2026-10-25. Confirm against the official source and any local rule or court order before relying on a date. Rules changelog.