Court Date Calculator
Last updated: June 2026
Online court date calculators
Several California courts offer free online tools that compute filing deadlines automatically. The most-used calculators:
- Los Angeles Superior Court Court Date Calculator — LA County Superior Court's official tool. Choose the document type, enter the trigger date, and the calculator returns the response, opposition, and reply deadlines under the Code of Civil Procedure.
- California Courts Self-Help — deadlines and time limits — statewide guidance from the Judicial Council on counting days, weekends, and holidays.
- Orange County Superior Court — OC publishes local rules and tentative-ruling schedules; combine these with CCP § 12 to compute hearing-related deadlines.
How to use these calculators correctly: the LA Superior Court tool applies the default Code of Civil Procedure rules (CCP §§ 12, 12a, 1010.6, 1013) to most state-court documents. Always verify the result against the controlling statute or local rule for your specific filing — some causes of action have shortened or extended deadlines that the generic calculator does not capture (e.g., anti-SLAPP motions, statutory mediation timelines, and unlawful detainer responses).
California civil litigation runs on deadlines. Miss a date by even one day and you can lose a motion, a cause of action, or the case itself. This page explains how to calculate the most common court deadlines in a California civil case — how to count the days, how holidays and weekends affect your math, and how to add time when service is by mail or electronic transmission.
The Default Rule: Code of Civil Procedure § 12
California civil deadlines are computed under CCP § 12: exclude the first day, include the last day. If the last day falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or judicial holiday, the deadline rolls to the next court day under CCP § 12a.
Add Time for Method of Service
When a deadline runs from service of a document, the responding party often gets extra days based on how it was served. Under CCP § 1010.6 and CCP § 1013:
- Personal service (in person) — no extension
- Mail (within California) — add 5 calendar days
- Mail (outside California, within US) — add 10 calendar days
- Mail (outside the US) — add 20 calendar days
- Express mail / overnight delivery — add 2 court days
- Electronic service — add 2 court days (under CCP § 1010.6)
- Fax — add 2 court days
Common Deadlines (Quick Reference)
For the most common civil-litigation deadlines — statute of limitations by claim type, response deadlines, motion timing, discovery deadlines, and trial-related dates — use our companion guide:
California Civil Litigation Deadlines Quick Guide
What Counts as a Court Day vs. a Calendar Day
Court days exclude weekends and judicial holidays. Calendar days include them. The statute or rule will say which one applies. When in doubt, check the rule text and count both ways.
California state holidays observed by the courts are listed by the Judicial Council:
Upcoming Judicial Branch Holidays — Judicial Council of California
When You Need It Right
The wrong date can be fatal. If you are facing a California civil filing deadline and want experienced counsel to confirm the math — or to take the matter from here — our team at Kolmogorov Law, P.C. handles California business litigation deadlines daily.
Call (909) 235-6116 or contact us online to schedule a consultation.
Disclaimer: This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Reading this page does not create an attorney–client relationship. Computation of time can vary by rule or by court order; always confirm with the operative statute, rule, or order in your case.