Voluntary expedited jury trial: pretrial exchange (exhibits, witness lists, instructions, motions in limine)
25 days before trial date (voluntary expedited jury trial), under Cal. Rules of Court, rule 3.1548(a), (b).
Rule text
Unless otherwise agreed by the parties, no later than 25 days before trial, each party must serve on all other parties the following:
Calculate this deadline
- Trigger (Trial date (voluntary expedited jury trial)): Friday, November 6, 2026.
- Count back 25 calendar days: Monday, October 12, 2026.
Cal. Rules of Court, rule 3.1548(a), (b)
Unless otherwise agreed by the parties, no later than 25 days before trial, each party must serve on all other parties the following: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
- 3.1548(a): service must be 'reasonably calculated to assure delivery to the other party or parties no later than the close of business on the last allowable day for service', so no add-on extends the deadline; choose a method that delivers by close of business. trial_continuance unclear: text says 'before trial' (not 'initial'); most natural reading is the trial date as then set. Parties may modify by consent order (3.1547(b)(1)).
- 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 (voluntary expedited jury trial) on Monday, March 15, 2027, personal service: due Thursday, February 18, 2027.
- Trigger (Trial date (voluntary expedited jury trial)): Monday, March 15, 2027.
- Count back 25 calendar days: Thursday, February 18, 2027.
Notes
3.1548(a): service must be 'reasonably calculated to assure delivery to the other party or parties no later than the close of business on the last allowable day for service', so no add-on extends the deadline; choose a method that delivers by close of business. trial_continuance unclear: text says 'before trial' (not 'initial'); most natural reading is the trial date as then set. Parties may modify by consent order (3.1547(b)(1)).
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 window (30 days after offer made) (30 days after)
- 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)
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.