California Trial Countdown Calculator

A single input, the trial date, produces the whole deadline chain: nonexpert and expert discovery cutoffs, the MSJ window, expert exchange, and the last day for a § 998 offer. Every date carries its citation, and selecting your county adds the local trial-preparation rules.

Not legal advice. Rules checked against the code on August 20, 2026. Verify every date yourself. Read the full disclaimer

Core CCP rules were checked against Westlaw (via CoCounsel legal research) on August 20, 2026. County local rules are paraphrased summaries; individual department standing orders are NOT included. Verify every date against the operative code sections and your court’s rules before relying on it. Using this site creates no attorney-client relationship.

Your dates

Trial date

Date initially set for trial (deadlines key off the initial date)

Date initial trial date was set (optional)

Used for the expert demand deadline (CCP § 2034.220)

MSJ service method

§§ 1005 and 1013 do NOT apply to MSJs (§ 437c(b)(6)), except § 1005(c) on how opposition and reply papers are served; § 437c has its own built-in extensions

Your county

CCP deadlines apply statewide; selecting a county adds its local trial-prep rules

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What this chain is built on

Discovery closes 30 days before trial and discovery motions must be heard 15 days before (CCP § 2024.020); expert discovery runs to 15 and 10 days (CCP § 2024.030). These deadlines key off the date initially set for trial, and a continuance does not reopen discovery (CCP § 2024.020(b)). The MSJ chain applies the 81-day notice period in effect since January 1, 2025 (CCP § 437c), and expert exchange runs under CCP §§ 2034.220-2034.280.

For the full plain-language walkthrough, see the discovery cutoff guide and the MSJ deadline guide.

The exchange date computed above is the gate on expert depositions: you have no right to depose an opposing expert until you have received that party’s witness list (CCP § 2034.410), and the window then closes 15 days before trial. To work that window, plus the 3-business-day materials deadline under CCP § 2034.415 and the fee tender that actually compels the expert to appear, use the deposition calculator.