Free sourced deadline calculator

Washington civil deadline calculator

Calculate 2 fixed time limits from the released Washington pack. Choose the deadline and trigger date to see the raw date, calculation steps, citation and checks that still need to be made.

Cited time limits: 2
Rule review: 6 August 2026
Output: Review date

Check the result before use

This is a self-check calculation of the sourced base period, not a final filing instruction. Washington legal holidays, court-specific closures and emergency closure orders are not bundled. Every calculated date is a review date: check Washington CR 6(a) and the current court calendar before filing or serving. Check the cited rule, the correct factual branch, every order and any electronic-filing cut-off.

State, territory or federal system

Court, tribunal or institution

Rule period

20 days from Personal service of the summons and complaint on the defendant in Washington

Washington CR 12(a)(1)AdvisoryVerify against the rules

Service outside Washington, publication, another statute or a permitted preliminary motion may use another period.

When did the clock start?

Legal disclaimer

Deadline Engine calculates dates from encoded procedural rules. It is software, not legal advice, and no output is approved for your matter. Check the jurisdiction, inputs, current cited rule, facts and any order or agreement before recording or using the date. Responsibility for the operative deadline and diary remains with you.

Exact released scope

Deadlines covered by this calculator

Every row below is rendered from the calculator catalogue. It shows the encoded base period, exact trigger, citation, counting direction and retained primary source. Rules or orders outside this list are not implied to be covered.

Answer an ordinary Washington civil complaint personally served in Washington

20 days

Trigger: Personal service of the summons and complaint on the defendant in Washington
Citation: Washington CR 12(a)(1)
Counting basis: trigger day excluded, counted forwards
Scope: Service outside Washington, publication, another statute or a permitted preliminary motion may use another period.
Relief or exception: Any enlargement is governed by Washington CR 6(b), the applicable rule and a valid court order.
Check before use: This is the sourced base period, not a final filing date. Apply the cited computation rule, current legal holidays, court closures, service branch and any order before use.

Answer an ordinary Washington civil complaint served outside Washington

60 days

Trigger: Service of the summons and complaint on the defendant outside Washington
Citation: Washington CR 12(a)(3)
Counting basis: trigger day excluded, counted forwards
Scope: Publication and other alternative-service routes must be matched to their exact trigger before using a date.
Relief or exception: Any enlargement is governed by Washington CR 6(b), the applicable rule and a valid court order.
Check before use: This is the sourced base period, not a final filing date. Apply the cited computation rule, current legal holidays, court closures, service branch and any order before use.

Source boundary

Official sources and calculation basis

The base-period calculation uses Washington CR 6(a). The source pack was reviewed on 6 August 2026. A newer amendment, local rule, closure direction or case-specific order can change the date.

Official source 1 · courts.wa.govOpen source
Official source 2 · courts.wa.govOpen source

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