Legal Deadline Calculator (Court Days & Calendar Days)
Count legal deadlines forward or backward in calendar days or court (business) days, skipping weekends and US federal holidays, with the Rule 6(a) roll-forward when a deadline lands on a weekend or holiday.
For general information only — not legal advice. Laws vary by location; consult a qualified lawyer.
How to use
- 1Enter the trigger date (e.g. date of service) and the number of days.
- 2Choose calendar or court days, and forward or backward.
- 3See the deadline and each skipped holiday.
How it's calculated
The trigger day isn't counted. Calendar days count every day; court days skip Saturdays, Sundays and federal holidays. If the last day is a weekend or holiday, the deadline moves to the next court day (Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 6(a)(1)(C)). Counting backward moves to the previous court day.
Frequently asked questions
Does this include state court holidays?
It uses US federal holidays. State courts have extra holidays (e.g. Lincoln's Birthday, Good Friday, César Chávez Day) and their own counting rules — check your local rules.
What if the court is closed unexpectedly?
Under Rule 6(a)(3), if the clerk's office is inaccessible on the last day (for example due to weather), the deadline extends to the next accessible day.
Do I add 3 days for mail service?
Under FRCP 6(d), yes for service by mail and a few other methods (not electronic service since 2016). Add 3 to the number of days before calculating.