Jury fee deposit, unlawful detainer (5 days before trial)

5 days before trial date (unlawful detainer), under CCP 631(c)(1).

Rule text

The fee described in subdivision (b) shall be due on or before the date scheduled for the initial case management conference in the action, except as follows:(1) In unlawful detainer actions, the fees shall be due at least five days before the date set for trial.(2) If no case management conference is scheduled in a civil action, or the initial case management conference occurred before June 28, 2012, and the initial complaint was filed on or after July 1, 2011, the fee shall be due no later than 365 calendar days after the filing of the initial complaint.

CCP 631(c)(1), official source

Calculate this deadline

Deadline
Friday, October 30, 2026
  1. Trigger (Trial date (unlawful detainer)): Friday, November 6, 2026.
  2. Count back 5 calendar days: Sunday, November 1, 2026.
  3. That day is a Sunday. Counting backward, this calculator uses the earlier court day so the full notice period is preserved: Friday, October 30, 2026 (see Cal. Code Civ. Proc. 12c).
Rules applied
CCP 631(c)(1)
The fee described in subdivision (b) shall be due on or before the date scheduled for the initial case management conference in the action, except as follows:(1) In unlawful detainer actions, the fees shall be due at least five days before the date set for trial.(2) If no case management conference is scheduled in a civil action, or the initial case management conference occurred before June 28, 2012, and the initial complaint was filed on or after July 1, 2011, the fee shall be due no later than 365 calendar days after the filing of the initial complaint.
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
  • Counting backward from a hearing or trial, when the day lands on a weekend or holiday we use the earlier court day. The rules do not state the direction expressly; confirm with the court.
  • Default deadline is ON or before the initial CMC date (days = 0). Failure to timely pay waives jury (631(f), not quoted). One fee per side (631(b)). Statute last amended eff. Sept. 17, 2012. The pre-2012 transitional rules in 631(c)(3) and (d) are obsolete for new cases.
  • 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

Trial date (unlawful detainer) on Monday, March 15, 2027, personal service: due Wednesday, March 10, 2027.

  1. Trigger (Trial date (unlawful detainer)): Monday, March 15, 2027.
  2. Count back 5 calendar days: Wednesday, March 10, 2027.

Notes

Default deadline is ON or before the initial CMC date (days = 0). Failure to timely pay waives jury (631(f), not quoted). One fee per side (631(b)). Statute last amended eff. Sept. 17, 2012. The pre-2012 transitional rules in 631(c)(3) and (d) are obsolete for new cases.

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.