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Responding to the claim

Deadlines for the defendant

The deadlines a defendant has to meet when responding to a claim, from acknowledgment of service and the defence to counterclaims, offers and appeals. The defence window can be extended by agreement where an acknowledgment is filed.

What to watch

Deadlines the defendant watches

  • Acknowledgment of service (CPR 10)
  • Filing the defence (CPR 15)
  • Extending the defence by agreement to 28 days
  • Counterclaim and additional claims (CPR 20)
  • Part 36 offers and acceptance
  • Default judgment exposure where no response is filed

The exact dates depend on the matter and the trigger. Open a calculator below and every date shows the rule it comes from.

Encoded time limits

The rows below restate the leading entries from the full encoded table of each practice area. The same rules apply whichever party you act for; open a practice area for every deadline it covers.

CPR deadline calculator

File Acknowledgment of ServiceCPR 10.3

14 days from deemed service of claim form

File Defence (no AoS filed)CPR 15.4(a)

14 days from service of particulars of claim

File Defence (AoS filed)CPR 15.4(b)

28 days from service of particulars of claim

Apply for Default Judgment (no AoS or Defence)CPR 12.3

14 days from deemed service of claim form

Insolvency deadline calculator

Statutory demand compliances.123(1)(a) / s.268(1)(a) IA 1986

21 days from Service date

Individual statutory demand set-asideIR 2016 r.10.4(4)

18 days from Service date

WU Gazette notice (after service)IR 2016 r.7.10(4)

7 business days from Service on company

WU Gazette notice (before hearing)IR 2016 r.7.10(4)

7 business days before Hearing date

Employment Tribunal deadline calculator

Unfair dismissals.111 ERA 1996

3 months less 1 day from Effective date of termination (EDT)

Discriminations.123 EqA 2010

3 months less 1 day from Act complained of

Unlawful deduction from wagess.23 ERA 1996

3 months less 1 day from Date wages due

Breach of contractET Extension of Jurisdiction Order 1994

3 months from Date of termination

Time limits at a glance

The headline periods below restate the encoded rules. Open a calculator below for the exact date, with deemed service, clear days and bank holidays applied.

File Acknowledgment of Service: what is the time limit?

14 days from deemed service of claim form, under CPR 10.3. The calculator applies deemed service, clear days and bank holidays automatically and shows the rule behind the date.

Statutory demand compliance: what is the time limit?

21 days from Service date, under s.123(1)(a) / s.268(1)(a) IA 1986. The calculator applies deemed service, clear days and bank holidays automatically and shows the rule behind the date.

Unfair dismissal: what is the time limit?

3 months less 1 day from Effective date of termination (EDT), under s.111 ERA 1996. The calculator applies deemed service, clear days and bank holidays automatically and shows the rule behind the date.

File Defence (no AoS filed): what is the time limit?

14 days from service of particulars of claim, under CPR 15.4(a). The calculator applies deemed service, clear days and bank holidays automatically and shows the rule behind the date.

Open a calculator

Calculators for the defendant

CPR CivilCalculate Civil Procedure Rules deadlines: acknowledgment of service, defence, Part 36, directions and appeals, with deemed service, clear days and bank holidays applied.InsolvencyCalculate insolvency deadlines: statutory demand compliance, winding-up petition evidence, administration steps and challenge windows under the Insolvency Act 1986.Employment TribunalCalculate Employment Tribunal time limits: ET1 presentation, ET3 response and EAT appeals, with ACAS Early Conciliation extensions applied under s.207B ERA 1996.