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You are here: Home / Free Legal Deadline Calculator | Court Date Calculator / Federal Court Pleadings Deadline Calculators / Deadline to Reply to Answer in Federal Court (if ordered)

Deadline to Reply to Answer in Federal Court (if ordered)

Unless ordered, a reply to an answer is not necessary pursuant to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (here is a great practice guide you’ll want to keep in your office). Specifically, Rule 7(a) establishes that plaintiffs may not file a reply to an answer except in specific circumstances. In those circumstances, a reply to an answer is due twenty-one (21) days after the order for a reply is served. Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(a)(1)(C).

What is the deadline to reply to an answer in federal court?

This general rule for civil litigation is contrasted with the rule for state inmates seeking habeas relief, which allows a reply by a petitioner. See Rule 5(e) of the Rules Governing § 2254 Cases (“The petitioner may submit a reply to the respondent’s answer or other pleading within a time fixed by the judge.”).

Links to Deadline Calculator Pages for Pertinent Federal Court Deadlines:

Pleadings

Filing an Answer (Generally)

Answers to Counterclaims and Crossclaims

Reply to an Answer (If Ordered)

Effect of a Motion on the Answer Deadline

Disclosures and Discovery

Rule 26(f) Conference

Joint Discovery Plan

Initial Disclosures

Responses to Discovery Requests

Expert Disclosures

Rebuttal Expert Disclosures

Pretrial Disclosures

Motions

Serving Motions

Affidavits in Opposition to Motions

Rule 12(b) Defenses/Motions

Motion for a More Definite Statement

Motion to Strike

Summary Judgment

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CourtDeadlines.com

Free court deadline calculators and resources for lawyers, legal professionals, and others.

Court Deadlines contains reference information and calculators for common deadlines in the federal rules of civil procedure. Court Deadlines also includes links to certain state court rules.

Disclaimer: The information presented on this site is for educational purposes only. Always check the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure or your state’s rules, if applicable, as well as any local rules or scheduling orders that might apply to your case.

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