Deadline calculator

Northern Ireland legal deadline calculator

Choose the court, tribunal or procedure, then enter what happened and when. You will get the date, citation and calculation steps.

Jurisdiction

Area of law

Court, tribunal or institution

Deadline

12 months from Date of issue of the writ

Rules of the Court of Judicature (NI) 1980, Sch 1, Order 6, rule 7(1)BindingHigh Court rules

Weekends, Northern Ireland bank holidays, Christmas Day and Good Friday are excluded from a period of 7 days or less.

Note the period runs 'beginning with' the date of issue, so the day of issue counts. This is a rare express displacement of Order 3 rule 2(2).

When did the clock start?

Choose the date using your device calendar. The control follows your device’s date format.

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Coverage reviewed August 2026 · Rules of the Court of Judicature (NI) 1980Review coverage and exclusions

Coverage

What you can calculate, save and export

The Northern Ireland coverage catalogue was last reviewed August 2026. Each rule has its own review date. Availability can vary by deadline; the calculator and directory show what needs checking.

Calculator: Free calculation available
Save and monitor: Available for eligible results.
Evidence Record: Available for eligible results.

Included forums

High Court
County Court
Court of Appeal
Judicial Review
Industrial Tribunal and Fair Employment Tribunal
Limitation periods

Check outside the calculator

The Long Vacation is flagged where relevant; it is not silently applied to every period.
Court-directed dates and discretionary extensions are not predicted.

Primary-source collections

Northern Ireland Department of Justice court rules

Deadline directory

Browse Northern Ireland deadline rules

Search by deadline, citation or court. Each entry shows what starts the clock and whether the current rule can be calculated or needs checking.

Search deadline, citation or court

Court, province or procedure

Rule status

Calculable: fixed period and triggerReference only: no single fixed periodNeeds checking: verify the cited provision

Showing 24 of 116 matching rules

Courts - High Court

Validity of writ for service

12 months

Calculable

Time runs from: Date of issue of the writ
Rule: Rules of the Court of Judicature (NI) 1980, Sch 1, Order 6, rule 7(1)

The trigger day counts as day one

Courts - High Court

Application to extend validity of writ

12 months

Calculable

Time runs from: The day next following the day on which the writ would otherwise expire (the application for extension must itself be made before that expiry day, or by such later day as the Court may allow)
Rule: Rules of the Court of Judicature (NI) 1980, Sch 1, Order 6, rule 7(2)

The trigger day counts as day one

Courts - High Court

Deemed date of service of writ by post or letter box

7 days

Calculable

Time runs from: Date on which the copy writ was sent by first-class post or inserted through the letter box
Rule: Rules of the Court of Judicature (NI) 1980, Sch 1, Order 10, rule 1(3)(a)

Time runs from the day after the trigger

Courts - High Court

Entry of appearance to writ served within the jurisdiction

14 days

Calculable

Time runs from: Service of the writ
Rule: Rules of the Court of Judicature (NI) 1980, Sch 1, Order 12, rule 5(a)

The trigger day counts as day one

Courts - High Court

Time for appearance where writ served in England and Wales or Scotland

21 days

Calculable

Time runs from: Service of the writ or notice of the writ out of the jurisdiction
Rule: Rules of the Court of Judicature (NI) 1980, Sch 1, Order 11, rule 1(3)(a)

The trigger day counts as day one

Courts - High Court

Deemed service of documents served after specified hours

1 day

Needs checking

Time runs from: Service effected after noon on a Saturday or after 4pm on any other weekday
Rule: Rules of the Court of Judicature (NI) 1980, Sch 1, Order 65, rule 7

Time runs from the day after the trigger

One period cannot express this provision faithfully. Check the cited rule.

Courts - High Court

Service of statement of claim

42 days

Calculable

Time runs from: Defendant enters an appearance
Rule: Rules of the Court of Judicature (NI) 1980, Sch 1, Order 18, rule 1

Time runs from the day after the trigger

Courts - High Court

Service of defence

42 days

Calculable

Time runs from: Later of the time limited for appearing and service of the statement of claim
Rule: Rules of the Court of Judicature (NI) 1980, Sch 1, Order 18, rule 2(1)

Time runs from the day after the trigger

Courts - High Court

Service of defence after leave to defend on summary judgment application

42 days

Calculable

Time runs from: Making of the order giving leave to defend under Order 14 or Order 86
Rule: Rules of the Court of Judicature (NI) 1980, Sch 1, Order 18, rule 2(2)

Time runs from the day after the trigger

Courts - High Court

Service of reply to defence

21 days

Calculable

Time runs from: Service of the defence on the plaintiff
Rule: Rules of the Court of Judicature (NI) 1980, Sch 1, Order 18, rule 3(4)

Time runs from the day after the trigger

Courts - High Court

Service of defence to counterclaim

21 days

Calculable

Time runs from: Service on the plaintiff of the counterclaim
Rule: Rules of the Court of Judicature (NI) 1980, Sch 1, Order 18, rule 3(4)

Time runs from the day after the trigger

Courts - High Court

Close of pleadings where a reply or defence to counterclaim is served

21 days

Calculable

Time runs from: Service of the reply or, if there is no reply but only a defence to counterclaim, service of the defence to counterclaim
Rule: Rules of the Court of Judicature (NI) 1980, Sch 1, Order 18, rule 20(1)(a)

Time runs from the day after the trigger

Courts - High Court

Close of pleadings where no reply or defence to counterclaim is served

21 days

Calculable

Time runs from: Service of the defence
Rule: Rules of the Court of Judicature (NI) 1980, Sch 1, Order 18, rule 20(1)(b)

Time runs from the day after the trigger

Courts - High Court

Service of defence or amended defence after amended statement of claim

14 days

Needs checking

Time runs from: Service of the amended statement of claim on the defendant
Rule: Rules of the Court of Judicature (NI) 1980, Sch 1, Order 20, rule 3(2)(b)

Time runs from the day after the trigger

One period cannot express this provision faithfully. Check the cited rule.

Courts - High Court

Application to disallow an amendment made without leave

14 days

Calculable

Time runs from: Service on the party of the amended writ or amended pleading
Rule: Rules of the Court of Judicature (NI) 1980, Sch 1, Order 20, rule 4(1)

Time runs from the day after the trigger

Courts - High Court

Lapse of order giving leave to amend if amendment not made

14 days

Calculable

Time runs from: Date the order giving leave to amend was made
Rule: Rules of the Court of Judicature (NI) 1980, Sch 1, Order 20, rule 9

Time runs from the day after the trigger

Courts - High Court

Discontinuance of action without leave

14 days

Calculable

Time runs from: Service of the defence on the plaintiff, or of the defence last served where there are two or more defendants
Rule: Rules of the Court of Judicature (NI) 1980, Sch 1, Order 21, rule 2(1)

Time runs from the day after the trigger

Courts - High Court

Notice of intention to proceed after a year's delay

1 month

Calculable

Time runs from: Last proceeding in the cause or matter (once a year or more has elapsed)
Rule: Rules of the Court of Judicature (NI) 1980, Sch 1, Order 3, rule 6(1)

Time runs from the day after the trigger

Courts - High Court

Application to dismiss for want of prosecution after two years' delay

24 months

Calculable

Time runs from: Last proceeding in the cause or matter
Rule: Rules of the Court of Judicature (NI) 1980, Sch 1, Order 3, rule 6(2)

Time runs from the day after the trigger

Courts - High Court

Exchange of lists of documents (automatic discovery)

14 days

Calculable

Time runs from: Close of pleadings as between the party and any other party
Rule: Rules of the Court of Judicature (NI) 1980, Sch 1, Order 24, rule 2(1)

Time runs from the day after the trigger

Courts - High Court

Affidavit verifying list of documents

14 days

Calculable

Time runs from: Service of a notice requiring an affidavit verifying the list (which itself must be served within one month after close of pleadings)
Rule: Rules of the Court of Judicature (NI) 1980, Sch 1, Order 24, rule 2(7)

Time runs from the day after the trigger

Courts - High Court

Notice of time for inspection of documents in list

7 days

Calculable

Time runs from: Service of the list of documents
Rule: Rules of the Court of Judicature (NI) 1980, Sch 1, Order 24, rule 10

Time runs from the day after the trigger

Courts - High Court

Response to notice to produce documents referred to in pleadings or affidavits

4 days

Calculable

Time runs from: Service of the notice requiring production
Rule: Rules of the Court of Judicature (NI) 1980, Sch 1, Order 24, rule 11(2)

Time runs from the day after the trigger

Courts - High Court

Notice to admit facts

21 days

Calculable

Time runs from: Setting down of the cause or matter for trial
Rule: Rules of the Court of Judicature (NI) 1980, Sch 1, Order 27, rule 2(1)

Time runs from the day after the trigger

This is calculation software, not legal advice. Check the cited current rule, any order and the facts before using a date.