Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 6(c)(1) provides a default timing rule for a written motion and notice of hearing in federal court. Unless the rules or a court order set a different time, a written motion and notice of hearing must generally be served at least fourteen (14) days before the hearing.
This deadline is often modified by local rules, standing orders, and case-specific scheduling orders. For that reason, litigants should treat Rule 6(c)(1) as the default federal rule, not as the only possible source of the deadline.
This calculator helps determine the default Rule 6(c)(1) deadline. For example, if a motion hearing is set for April 15, the motion and notice of hearing ordinarily must be served at least fourteen days earlier, subject to any different deadline imposed by local rule or court order.
Affidavits supporting or opposing motions are governed by a related timing rule. See our calculator for the deadline for affidavits in opposition to motions.
Parties should always compare the calculated deadline with the local rules, the judge’s standing order, and any case-specific order.
For additional federal motion deadlines, see our federal motion deadline calculators.