Gibraltar court deadlines
Civil cases in the Supreme Court of Gibraltar follow the English Civil Procedure Rules, applied with local changes. Here is how time is counted and where Gibraltar differs.
Guide only. There is no calculator for this court yet. Use this page as a checklist and confirm every period against the current rules and any order in your case.
Which rules apply
Section 38A of the Supreme Court Act applies the Civil Procedure Rules of England and Wales, as amended from time to time, with any modifications Gibraltar's circumstances require. The Supreme Court Rules 2000 add local requirements on matters such as court records, fees and forms. The Supreme Court hears most civil cases. Appeals go to the Court of Appeal and then to the Privy Council.
How CPR 2.8 counts time
- Periods are counted in clear days: the day the period starts is not included, and where the end is fixed by an event, that day is not included either.
- Periods of 5 days or less skip Saturdays, Sundays, bank holidays, Christmas Day and Good Friday.
- If the time for doing something at the court office ends on a day the office is closed, it is in time if done on the next day the office is open.
Common time periods under the CPR
| Step | Time | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Acknowledge service | 14 days after service of the particulars of claim | CPR 10.3 |
| File a defence | 14 days after the particulars, or 28 days if service was acknowledged | CPR 15.4 |
| Claim form deemed served (served in the jurisdiction) | Second business day after the step taken to serve it | CPR 6.14 |
Because the CPR apply with modifications, check the Supreme Court Rules 2000 and any Gibraltar practice direction before relying on an English period.
Holidays
Business days and bank holidays follow Gibraltar's own calendar, which differs from England's. It includes Workers' Memorial Day on 28 April and Gibraltar National Day on 10 September. Check the Government of Gibraltar list for the year.
Sources
- Supreme Court Act, section 38A
- Supreme Court Rules 2000
- Civil Procedure Rules (England and Wales), Parts 2, 6, 10 and 15
Rules last checked October 2026.