Civil Litigation Deadlines Quick Guide (California)

California Civil Litigation Deadlines Quick Reference

Last updated: November 2026. Reviewed by Pavel Kolmogorov, California business litigation attorney (State Bar No. 321018).

Statute of Limitations

Personal Injury: 2 years (CCP § 335.1)
Property Damage: 3 years (CCP § 338)
Breach of Written Contract: 4 years (CCP § 337)
Breach of Oral Contract: 2 years (CCP § 339(1))
Fraud: 3 years (CCP § 338(d))
Medical Malpractice: 1 year from when the injury was or should have been discovered, or 3 years from the injury, whichever is first (CCP § 340.5)
Legal Malpractice: 1 year from when the wrongful act or omission was or should have been discovered, or 4 years from the act or omission, whichever is first (CCP § 340.6(a))

Serving the Complaint

Service of Complaint: Within 60 days after filing the complaint (CRC 3.110(b))
Filing Proof of Service: Within 60 days after filing the complaint (CRC 3.110(b))

Responsive Pleadings

Defendant's Response (Answer, Demurrer, or Motion to Strike): 30 days after service of the summons (CCP § 412.20(a)(3))
Plaintiff's Opposition to Demurrer/Motion to Strike: 9 court days before hearing (CCP § 1005(b))
Defendant's Reply to Opposition: 5 court days before hearing (CCP § 1005(b))

Discovery Deadlines

Start of Discovery: Defendant may serve written discovery at any time; plaintiff may serve it 10 days after service of summons on, or appearance by, the responding party, whichever is first (CCP §§ 2030.020, 2031.020, 2033.020). Plaintiff may serve a deposition notice 20 days after service of summons on, or appearance by, any defendant (CCP § 2025.210(b))
Responses to Interrogatories, Requests for Admission, Requests for Production: 30 days from service (extended if served by mail, overnight delivery, fax or electronically; CCP §§ 2030.260, 2031.260, 2033.250)
Motions to Compel Further Discovery Responses: Notice of motion within 45 days after service of the verified response or any supplemental verified response, or by a specific later date agreed in writing (CCP §§ 2030.300(c), 2031.310(c), 2033.290(c))

Depositions

Notice of Deposition: At least 10 days prior (extended if by mail, overnight delivery, fax or electronically; CCP § 2025.270)
Objections to Deposition Notice: At least 3 calendar days prior (CCP § 2025.410(a))

Expert Witness Discovery

Initial Exchange of Expert Witnesses: 50 days before the initial trial date or 20 days after service of the demand, whichever is closer to the trial date (CCP § 2034.230(b))
Supplemental Expert Disclosure: 20 days after initial exchange (CCP § 2034.280)
Completion of Expert Depositions: 15 days before initial trial date (CCP § 2024.030)

Arbitration

Request for Judicial Arbitration: Stipulation, or written election by all plaintiffs, filed no later than the initial case management statement, unless the court orders otherwise (CRC 3.812(a), (b))
Arbitrator's Award: Filed within 10 days after completion of arbitration hearing (CRC 3.825(b))

Motions

Motion for Summary Judgment (MSJ/MSA): Served at least 81 days before hearing (extended if served by mail, overnight delivery, fax or electronically); heard at least 30 days before trial (CCP § 437c(a)(2), (3))
Opposition to MSJ/MSA: 20 days before hearing (CCP § 437c(b)(2))
Reply in Support of MSJ/MSA: 11 days before hearing (CCP § 437c(b)(4))
Notice of Intention to Move for New Trial, or Motion for JNOV: Within 15 days after service of notice of entry of judgment by the clerk or a party, or 180 days after entry of judgment, whichever is earliest (CCP §§ 659(a)(2), 629(b))

Trial-Related Deadlines

Jury Fees Deposit: No later than date of initial Case Management Conference (CCP § 631(c))
Demand for Jury Trial: Announce when the case is first set for trial, or within 5 days after notice of the setting if it is set without notice or stipulation (CCP § 631(f)(4)); also addressed at the Case Management Conference (CRC 3.727(13))
Trial Brief: Check the court's local rules and the trial department's orders
Exchange of Witness & Exhibit Lists: Check the court's local rules and the trial department's orders
Motions in Limine: Timing is set by the trial judge; check the local rules and the trial department's orders (CRC 3.1112(f))

Appeals

Notice of Appeal: Within 60 days after service of notice of entry, or of a filed-endorsed copy, of the judgment or appealable order, or 180 days after its entry, whichever is earliest (CRC 8.104(a))

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Deadlines are only half the picture — what you file matters as much as when. See our guide to pleadings and motions in California civil litigation for how complaints, demurrers, and motions to strike fit the timeline above.

Settlement deadlines matter too: a Section 998 offer to compromise must be served at least 10 days before trial, and it is deemed withdrawn if not accepted before trial or within 30 days after it is made, whichever comes first. That timing can shift costs dramatically.

Deadlines in this guide are general rules, and local rules or court orders can shorten some of them. If a deadline in your case is unclear or already missed, speak with an Irvine business litigation lawyer promptly — relief is often available, but only if you act quickly.