Methodology
Methodology
Deadline Engine calculates dates from primary procedural materials and shows the rule context needed to check the result.
Methodology last reviewed 5 July 2026. Encoded rules current to June 2026.
How a rule becomes code
- 1The rule is identified from its primary source, practice direction, or official tribunal material.
- 2The trigger event, period, counting method, and citation are encoded as typed application logic.
- 3Worked examples and edge cases are compared against the computed result before the rule is treated as ready.
- 4Rules are revisited when procedural amendments, tribunal guidance, or bank holiday data change.
What is adjusted automatically
Deadline Engine handles deemed service, clear-day treatment where the rule calls for it, business-day adjustments, and official bank holidays.
Court office closure periods and rule-specific non-business-day treatment are applied inside the calculation layer rather than left for users to remember after the date has been produced.
Primary sources
Source materials
The source material below represents the kinds of rules and official materials used across the supported jurisdictions.
12source categories
- Civil Procedure Rules
- CPR Practice Directions
- Pre-action Protocols
- Family Procedure Rules
- Criminal Procedure Rules
- Employment Tribunal Rules
- FCA Handbook
- First-tier Tribunal Rules
- Insolvency Act and Rules
- Companies Act 2006
- Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996
- Landlord and Tenant materials
Review cadence
Rules are reviewed when procedural amendments take effect, when tribunal materials change, and when official bank-holiday data updates. The aim is to keep the system current without hiding the fact that legal rules can move.
Report a correction
If you think a calculation is wrong, email hello@deadlineengine.com with the trigger date, practice area, expected result, and supporting source.
FAQ
Common launch questions
Is Deadline Engine legal advice?
No. Deadline Engine is software, not legal advice. Every output must be checked against the underlying rule and the facts of the matter.
How are calculations produced?
Calculations are produced by deterministic rule logic encoded from procedural rules, practice directions, statutory materials, and official guidance. Deadline Engine does not use AI to calculate deadlines.
Which jurisdictions are covered?
The product focuses on UK legal and regulatory deadlines, with England and Wales coverage where the procedural rule requires it. The applicable jurisdiction is shown in the calculation context.
Can I cancel?
Yes. Subscriptions are managed through the billing portal in your account, and cancellation takes effect according to the subscription terms shown there.
Do you store matter data?
If you create an account, saved matters, deadlines, reminder settings, and audit logs are stored so you can return to them. Data handling is described in the Privacy Policy.
Can I export my data?
Yes. Account tools include data export for saved records and calculation audit information where available.