CCP 998 offer: acceptance window (30 days after offer made)
30 days after date the 998 offer was made (served), under Cal. Code Civ. Proc. 998(b)(2).
Rule text
If the offer is not accepted prior to trial or arbitration or within 30 days after it is made, whichever occurs first, it shall be deemed withdrawn, and cannot be given in evidence upon the trial or arbitration.
Calculate this deadline
- Trigger (Date the 998 offer was made (served)): Friday, November 6, 2026.
- Exclude the trigger day and count 30 calendar days: Sunday, December 6, 2026.
- That day is a Sunday, so the deadline moves to the next court day: Monday, December 7, 2026 (Cal. Code Civ. Proc. 12, 12a, 12b, 10; Cal. Rules of Court, rule 1.10).
Cal. Code Civ. Proc. 998(b)(2)
If the offer is not accepted prior to trial or arbitration or within 30 days after it is made, whichever occurs first, it shall be deemed withdrawn, and cannot be given in evidence upon the trial or arbitration.Official source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
- Whichever occurs FIRST: also see offer_998_acceptance_before_trial. CCP 1013 / 1010.6 extend the 30 days for an offer served by mail or electronically (Poster v. Southern Cal. Rapid Transit Dist. (1990) 52 Cal.3d 266; independent review). An acceptor who wants zero risk accepts within 30 days of service. Acceptance must be in writing and signed (998(b)).
- 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 the 998 offer was made (served) on Monday, March 15, 2027, personal service: due Wednesday, April 14, 2027.
- Trigger (Date the 998 offer was made (served)): Monday, March 15, 2027.
- Exclude the trigger day and count 30 calendar days: Wednesday, April 14, 2027.
Notes
Whichever occurs FIRST: also see offer_998_acceptance_before_trial. CCP 1013 / 1010.6 extend the 30 days for an offer served by mail or electronically (Poster v. Southern Cal. Rapid Transit Dist. (1990) 52 Cal.3d 266; independent review). An acceptor who wants zero risk accepts within 30 days of service. Acceptance must be in writing and signed (998(b)).
Related deadlines
- Jury fee deposit, unlawful detainer (5 days before trial) (5 days before)
- Jury fee deposit when no case management conference is set (365 days after the complaint is filed) (365 days after)
- Jury fee deposit for late-appearing parties (25 days before the initial trial date) (25 days before)
- Mandatory settlement conference statement (submit and serve) (5 court days before)
- CCP 998 offer to compromise: last day to serve before trial (10 days before)
- CCP 998 offer: acceptance cut off by commencement of trial (0 days before)
- Notice of trial served by a party (clerk did not serve) (15 days before)
- Notice of trial served by the clerk (court duty) (20 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.