Expert discovery cutoff (complete expert discovery)

15 days before date initially set for trial, under Cal. Code Civ. Proc. 2024.030; 2024.020(b); 2016.060.

Rule text

Any party shall be entitled as a matter of right to complete discovery proceedings pertaining to a witness identified under Chapter 18 (commencing with Section 2034.010) on or before the 15th day, and to have motions concerning that discovery heard on or before the 10th day, before the date initially set for the trial of the action.

Cal. Code Civ. Proc. 2024.030; 2024.020(b); 2016.060, official source

Calculate this deadline

Deadline
Thursday, October 22, 2026
  1. Trigger (Date INITIALLY set for trial): Friday, November 6, 2026.
  2. Count back 15 calendar days: Thursday, October 22, 2026.
Rules applied
Cal. Code Civ. Proc. 2024.030; 2024.020(b); 2016.060
Any party shall be entitled as a matter of right to complete discovery proceedings pertaining to a witness identified under Chapter 18 (commencing with Section 2034.010) on or before the 15th day, and to have motions concerning that discovery heard on or before the 10th 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
  • Applies to discovery of witnesses identified in the CCP 2034 expert exchange. trial_continuance initial_only: 'date initially set for the trial' plus 2024.020(b): 'Except as provided in Section 2024.050, a continuance or postponement of the trial date does not operate to reopen discovery proceedings.' Discovery is 'completed on the day a response is due or on the day a deposition begins' (CCP 2024.010). Roll per CCP 2016.060: 'the time limit is extended until the next court day closer to the trial date', i.e., FORWARD (later) to the next court day, overriding the usual backward roll for before-trial deadlines. Conservative practice: treat the preceding court day as the target. Court may reopen on motion (2024.050) or parties may agree in writing (2024.060).
  • 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 Monday, March 1, 2027.

  1. Trigger (Date INITIALLY set for trial): Monday, March 15, 2027.
  2. Count back 15 calendar days: Sunday, February 28, 2027.
  3. That day is a Sunday, so the deadline moves to the next court day closer to the event, per the rule cited for this deadline: Monday, March 1, 2027.

Notes

Applies to discovery of witnesses identified in the CCP 2034 expert exchange. trial_continuance initial_only: 'date initially set for the trial' plus 2024.020(b): 'Except as provided in Section 2024.050, a continuance or postponement of the trial date does not operate to reopen discovery proceedings.' Discovery is 'completed on the day a response is due or on the day a deposition begins' (CCP 2024.010). Roll per CCP 2016.060: 'the time limit is extended until the next court day closer to the trial date', i.e., FORWARD (later) to the next court day, overriding the usual backward roll for before-trial deadlines. Conservative practice: treat the preceding court day as the target. Court may reopen on motion (2024.050) or parties may agree in writing (2024.060).

Related deadlines

All California civil 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.

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.