In federal court, an answer to a complaint is generally due twenty-one (21) days after service of the summons and complaint. Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(a)(1)(A)(i). If a party files certain Rule 12 motions and the court denies the motion or postpones ruling until trial, the answer is generally due fourteen (14) days after notice of the court’s action. Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(a)(4).
When is the deadline to file an answer in federal court?
Federal Answer Deadline Calculator
Service date of the summons and complaint
Date of notice of the court’s action (motion denied or disposition postponed until trial)
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If you need to calculate the deadline to answer a counterclaim or crossclaim, see our federal counterclaim and crossclaim calculator. If a Rule 12 motion affects the answer deadline, see our article on the effect of a motion on the answer deadline.