California Code of Civil Procedure
Response period extended by mail service outside the United States (§ 1013(a))
Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 1013(a)
When the place of address is outside the United States, mail service extends a response period by 20 calendar days. Modeled on a 30-day base period.
Not legal advice. Computed dates are informational only. Verify every deadline against the governing rule, your court's local rules, and the judge's standing orders.
How this deadline is computed
- Period
- 30 calendar days
- Counted
- forward
- If it lands on a non-court day
- roll forward
- Service extensions
- mail +20 cal., overnight +2 court, fax +2 court, electronic +2 court
Worked example
For a triggering event on Monday, June 15, 2026 with service by mail, the deadline under Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 1013(a) is Tuesday, August 4, 2026. Every counting step is shown below.
- 1Jun 15, 2026
Trigger date
Monday. The triggering event under Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 1013(a).
- 2Jun 15, 2026
Exclude the trigger day
The day of the triggering event is not counted. Counting begins with the next day (FRCP 6(a)(1)(A) and analogous state rules).
- 3Jul 15, 2026
Count 30 calendar days forward
Every day counts, including weekends and holidays. Intermediate days are not skipped for calendar-day periods.
- 4Aug 4, 2026
Apply 20-calendar day service extension
Service by mail adds 20 calendar day(s) to the period (Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 1013(a)).
- 5Aug 4, 2026
No roll needed
Tuesday is a court day.
- 6Aug 4, 2026
Deadline
Tuesday, Aug 4, 2026.
Calculate your own date
Open the calculator with this rule already selected and enter your own triggering event.
Use Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 1013(a) in the calculatorQuestions about Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 1013(a)
- How many days is the deadline under Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 1013(a)?
- 30 calendar days, counted after the triggering event. When the place of address is outside the United States, mail service extends a response period by 20 calendar days. Modeled on a 30-day base period.
- Do weekends and holidays count toward the 30 calendar days?
- Yes. Every intervening day counts, including weekends and holidays. Only the final day is adjusted: if it falls on a weekend or holiday, it rolls forward to the next court day.
- Does the day of the triggering event count?
- No. The day of the triggering event is excluded and counting begins the following day, under Fed. R. Civ. P. 6(a)(1)(A) and the analogous state provisions.
- Does the method of service change the deadline under Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 1013(a)?
- Yes. Service by mail adds 20 calendar days; by overnight adds 2 court days; by fax adds 2 court days; by electronic adds 2 court days. Personal service and any method not listed add nothing.
- Worked example: what is the deadline for a triggering event on Monday, June 15, 2026?
- Tuesday, August 4, 2026, reached in 6 steps with service by mail.
Source and verification
Read the text of Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 1013(a)
Not yet checked against the official text. This entry encodes the rule as published, but no line-by-line verification against the current statute has been recorded. Confirm the period against the source above before relying on it.
Other California (State Courts) deadlines
- Motion notice period (16 court days before the hearing)Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 1005(b)
- Opposition papers (9 court days before the hearing)Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 1005(b)
- Reply papers (5 court days before the hearing)Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 1005(b)
- Response period extended by in-state mail service (§ 1013(a))Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 1013(a)
- Response period extended by out-of-state mail service (§ 1013(a))Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 1013(a)
- Demurrer to a complaint or cross-complaintCal. Code Civ. Proc. § 430.40(a)
- Motion to strikeCal. Code Civ. Proc. § 435(b)(1)
- Summary judgment motion — 75 days' noticeCal. Code Civ. Proc. § 437c(a)(2)
- Summary judgment opposition — 14 days before the hearingCal. Code Civ. Proc. § 437c(b)(2)
- Summary judgment reply — 5 days before the hearingCal. Code Civ. Proc. § 437c(b)(4)