ertain motions must be filed before a responsive pleading is served. When a party files a motion under Rule 12, the deadline to serve an answer is altered until the court acts on the motion. Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(a)(4) governs how the filing and disposition of certain Rule 12 motions affects the timing for serving a responsive pleading.
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(a)(4) explains how certain Rule 12 motions affect the deadline to serve a responsive pleading:
(A) “if the court denies the motion or postpones its disposition until trial, the responsive pleading must be served within 14 days after notice of the court’s action”; or
(B) “if the court grants a motion for a more definite statement, the responsive pleading must be served within 14 days after the more definite statement is served.”
Rule 12(a)(4), Fed. R. Civ. P.
If no Rule 12 motion is filed, see our federal answer deadline calculator to determine the standard Rule 12(a) answer deadline.