Jersey court deadlines
Civil cases in the Royal Court of Jersey run under the Royal Court Rules 2004. Here are the periods you meet most often and how Rule 1/3 counts them.
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.
How Rule 1/3 counts time
- Periods after a date start immediately after that date, so the trigger day is not counted.
- Periods before a date end immediately before that date.
- Clear days means at least that number of days must fall between the day of the act and the date.
- Periods of 7 days or less skip Saturdays, Sundays, public and bank holidays, Christmas Day and Good Friday.
Under Rule 1/4, if the time for doing something before the Greffier or at the offices of the Viscount or the Greffier ends on a Sunday or a day those offices are closed, it is in time if done on the next day they are open.
Common time periods
| Step | Time | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Serve a summons before the appearance date | At least 4 clear days | RCR 5/15 |
| Particulars of claim (debt or liquidated claim by summons) | 21 days after the action is placed on the pending list | RCR 6/6(3) |
| File an answer | 21 days after the pending list or delivery of particulars | RCR 6/6(4) |
| File a reply | 21 days after delivery of the answer | RCR 6/6(8) |
| File a rejoinder (answer with counterclaim) | 21 days after delivery of the reply | RCR 6/6(10) |
| Apply to dispute jurisdiction (return date fixed) | 21 days after the pending list | RCR 6/7(3)(a) |
| Serve a summary judgment summons and affidavit | At least 14 clear days before the hearing | RCR 7/2(6) |
| Deliver copies of pleadings to other parties | Within 24 hours of filing | RCR 6/6(11) |
A document posted to an address in Jersey is treated as served on the second day after posting, not counting days with no post collection or delivery (Rule 5/6(3)). Ordinary sittings of the Samedi division are held on Fridays.
Extending time
Under Rule 1/5 the Court or the Viscount can extend or shorten time, even after the period has expired. Time to serve, file or amend a pleading can also be extended by written consent without an order.
Holidays
Public and bank holidays are those appointed under the Public Holidays and Bank Holidays (Jersey) Law 1951, which include Liberation Day on 9 May. The Court does not normally sit on Christmas Day, Good Friday, Sundays or public holidays.
Sources
- Royal Court Rules 2004, official consolidated version current from 2 October 2026
- Public Holidays and Bank Holidays (Jersey) Law 1951
Rules last checked October 2026.