Master Litigation + Appellate Deadline Guide

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California Civil (Trial → Appeal Continuum)

A. Pleadings & Early Case Deadlines

Service of Complaint — 60 days after filing — CRC 3.110
Responsive Pleading (Answer or Demurrer) — 30 days after service — CCP § 412.20
Demurrer Hearing — At least 16 court days after filing — CCP § 1005(b)
Opposition to Demurrer — 9 court days before hearing — CCP § 1005(b)
Reply to Demurrer — 5 court days before hearing — CCP § 1005(b)
Case Management Conference (CMC) — Court-set (typically 120–180 days) — CRC 3.722
Case Management Statement — 15 calendar days before CMC — CRC 3.725

B. Motion Practice (Trial Court)

Notice of Motion — 16 court days before hearing — CCP § 1005(b)
Opposition — 9 court days before hearing — CCP § 1005(b)
Reply — 5 court days before hearing — CCP § 1005(b)
Ex Parte Application — By 10:00 a.m. the court day before — CRC 3.1203
MSJ / MSA Filing — 75 days before hearing — CCP § 437c(a)
MSJ Opposition — 14 days before hearing — CCP § 437c(b)(2)
MSJ Reply — 5 days before hearing — CCP § 437c(b)(4)
Motion Cutoff — 15 days before trial — CCP § 2024.020

C. Discovery

Written Discovery Responses — 30 days after service — CCP §§ 2030–2033
Motion to Compel — 45 days after deficient response — CCP §§ 2030.300(c), 2031.310(c)
Discovery Cutoff — 30 days before trial — CCP § 2024.020
Expert Disclosure — 50 days before trial — CCP § 2034.230
Expert Depositions — Complete by 15 days before trial — CCP § 2034.410

Service by mail within California adds 5 calendar days.

D. Settlement, Trial & Judgment

MSC / SMC — Court-set (often 7–14 days before trial)
MSC / SMC Statement — Usually 5–10 court days before
Trial Briefs — Court-ordered
Judgment Entered — Court action
Notice of Entry of Judgment — Triggers appellate deadlines

E. Appellate Deadlines (California Court of Appeal)

Jurisdictional (Non-Extendable)

Notice of Appeal (Judgment) — 60 days after service of Notice of Entry or 180 days after entry — CRC 8.104
Notice of Appeal (Post-Judgment Order) — 60 days after service — CRC 8.104

Miss this deadline and the appeal does not exist.

Record & Administrative

Designation of Record — 10 days after Notice of Appeal — CRC 8.121
Reporter’s Transcript Notice — 10 days after Notice of Appeal — CRC 8.130
Civil Case Information Statement (CCIS) — 15 days after Notice of Appeal — CRC 8.100(g)

Appellate Briefing

Appellant’s Opening Brief — 40 days after record filed — CRC 8.212(a)(1)
Respondent’s Brief — 30 days after AOB — CRC 8.212(a)(2)
Appellant’s Reply Brief — 20 days after RB — CRC 8.212(a)(3)

Post-Decision

Petition for Rehearing — 15 days after opinion
Petition for Review (California Supreme Court) — 10 days after decision is final
Remittitur Issued — 30 days after finality

3. Deadline Calculator Framework (Paralegal-Proof)

This is logic, not fluff. It mirrors how real docketing departments calculate dates.

A. Trial-Level Calculator (Input: Trial Date)

Motion cutoff = Trial date − 15 days
Discovery cutoff = Trial date − 30 days
Expert disclosure = Trial date − 50 days
Expert deposition cutoff = Trial date − 15 days
MSC target window = Trial date − 7 to 14 days

Motion Practice (Hearing-Based):
Opposition = Hearing date − 9 court days
Reply = Hearing date − 5 court days
Motion filing = Hearing date − 16 court days

B. Appellate Calculator (Input: Judgment / Record Dates)

Inputs:
Date of Notice of Entry of Judgment (if any)
Date judgment entered
Date record filed

Auto-Calculated Outputs:
Notice of Appeal deadline = earlier of:
• Judgment entry + 180 days
• Notice of Entry + 60 days

Record designation = NOA + 10 days
CCIS = NOA + 15 days
AOB = Record filed + 40 days
Respondent brief = AOB + 30 days
Reply brief = RB + 20 days
Petition for rehearing = Opinion + 15 days
Petition for review = Finality + 10 days

C. Red-Flag Rules (Non-Negotiable)

Notice of Appeal deadlines are jurisdictional — no extensions, ever
Mail service adds 5 calendar days (trial court only)
Court days are not calendar days — weekends and holidays excluded
Local rules override everything — always cross-check

Final Practical Note

Trial calendars may forgive.
Appellate calendars terminate.

This is the spine of a serious litigation docket.