Civil Procedure Rules deadline
CPR counterclaim-with-defence deadline guide
A defendant may make a counterclaim without the court’s permission if it is filed with the defence. There is no independent fixed counterclaim period: the relevant date is the applicable defence deadline.
Rule reviewed
At a glance
What this source guide covers
- Period
- With the defence, unless the court gives permission later
- Trigger
- The applicable deadline for filing the defence
- Direction
- Follow the correct defence route
- Counting method
- First establish the defence deadline, including any acknowledgment of service, extension agreement, order or service issue. Rule 20.4 does not create a separate fixed counterclaim date.
Cited source guide
Check the rule before calculating a date
This route has a real deadline question and a current primary source, but it needs facts or time-counting treatment the existing calculator cannot faithfully collect yet. It deliberately does not generate a date.
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- Example input
- 03/08/2026
Start with 03/08/2026 as the the applicable deadline for filing the defence. The calculator applies first establish the defence deadline, including any acknowledgment of service, extension agreement, order or service issue. rule 20.4 does not create a separate fixed counterclaim date. and any final-day treatment follows the applicable defence calculation and court-closure rule, not a new part 20 period. before it shows the cited output and the checks that may change it.
Calculation basis
How the date is counted
First establish the defence deadline, including any acknowledgment of service, extension agreement, order or service issue. Rule 20.4 does not create a separate fixed counterclaim date.
Any final-day treatment follows the applicable defence calculation and court-closure rule, not a new Part 20 period.
Check before use
Exceptions and matter facts
- A counterclaim filed at another time needs the court’s permission under CPR 20.4(2)(b).
- A counterclaim against a person other than the claimant has a different Part 20 route. Check whether an additional party is involved.
Check this rule before using it
Deadline Engine is calculation software, not legal advice. Check the current rule, any order and the facts before adding a date to your diary.
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