Expert witness exchange date: 20 days after service of demand (alternative)

20 days after service of the demand for exchange of expert witness information, under Cal. Code Civ. Proc. 2034.230(b); 2016.050; 2016.060.

Rule text

The specified date of exchange shall be 50 days before the initial trial date, or 20 days after service of the demand, whichever is closer to the trial date, unless the court, on motion and a showing of good cause, orders an earlier or later date of exchange.

Cal. Code Civ. Proc. 2034.230(b); 2016.050; 2016.060, official source

Calculate this deadline

Deadline
Monday, November 30, 2026
  1. Trigger (Service of the demand for exchange of expert witness information): Friday, November 6, 2026.
  2. Exclude the trigger day and count 20 calendar days: Thursday, November 26, 2026.
  3. That day is a Thanksgiving Day, so the deadline moves to the next court day: Monday, November 30, 2026 (Cal. Code Civ. Proc. 12, 12a, 12b, 10; Cal. Rules of Court, rule 1.10).
Rules applied
Cal. Code Civ. Proc. 2034.230(b); 2016.050; 2016.060
The specified date of exchange shall be 50 days before the initial trial date, or 20 days after service of the demand, whichever is closer to the trial date, unless the court, on motion and a showing of good cause, orders an earlier or later date of exchange.
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
  • Alternative to existing rule expert_exchange (50 days before initial trial date); the exchange date is whichever is CLOSER TO TRIAL. AMBIGUITY: CCP 2016.050 ('Sections 1011 and 1013 apply to any method of discovery or service of a motion provided for in this title') suggests the 1013/1010.6 add-on extends the 20 days when the demand is served by mail or electronically; set to 'general' so the demanding party does not specify a date that is too early. Lawyer review recommended.
  • 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

Service of the demand for exchange of expert witness information on Monday, March 15, 2027, personal service: due Monday, April 5, 2027.

  1. Trigger (Service of the demand for exchange of expert witness information): Monday, March 15, 2027.
  2. Exclude the trigger day and count 20 calendar days: Sunday, April 4, 2027.
  3. That day is a Sunday, so the deadline moves to the next court day: Monday, April 5, 2027 (Cal. Code Civ. Proc. 12, 12a, 12b, 10; Cal. Rules of Court, rule 1.10).

Notes

Alternative to existing rule expert_exchange (50 days before initial trial date); the exchange date is whichever is CLOSER TO TRIAL. AMBIGUITY: CCP 2016.050 ('Sections 1011 and 1013 apply to any method of discovery or service of a motion provided for in this title') suggests the 1013/1010.6 add-on extends the 20 days when the demand is served by mail or electronically; set to 'general' so the demanding party does not specify a date that is too early. Lawyer review recommended.

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.