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Court, tribunal, regulatory and commercial deadlines for United States, computed by a deterministic rules engine. Pick the matter and court below; the calculation route and citation come with every date.
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21 days from Service of the summons and complaint on the defendant
FRCP 12(a)(1)(A)(i)Binding
Opening words of Rule 12(a) are 'Unless another time is specified by this rule or a federal statute', so a specific federal statute displaces the 21 days. FRCP 6(d) can NEVER add 3 days to this period. Failure to answer exposes the defendant to entry of default under Rule 55(a). Corrected on verification: the entry previously said that Rule 6(d) adds 3 days 'only where service was by mail, by leaving with the clerk, or by other consented means', which invites the reading that a mailed complaint attracts the extra 3 days. It does not. FRCP 6(d) is keyed exclusively to service made under FRCP 5(b)(2)(C), (D) or (F); the summons and complaint are served under FRCP 4, so no 3 days are ever added to the Rule 12(a)(1)(A)(i) period however service was effected. The quoted opening words of Rule 12(a) were also incomplete: the rule reads 'Unless another time is specified by this rule or a federal statute'. Sources: FRCP 6(d) and FRCP 12(a)(1), current text.
Legal disclaimer
Deadline Engine provides calculated dates based on procedural rules. It is not legal advice. You must independently verify every deadline against the underlying rules and the facts of your matter. Deadline Engine accepts no liability for missed deadlines.
