Australia · Australian Capital Territory courts
When does the ACT closure of pleadings period end?
On subsequent pleading service, otherwise 7 days after defence or answer service. Identify the closure of pleadings under the applicable rule 483 branch. A later pleading closes pleadings on its service day. The 7 day branch cannot be selected from a defence date alone. Status-calendar interaction requires a bounded legal review before a computed date.
- Period
- On subsequent pleading service, otherwise 7 days after defence or answer service
- Trigger
- Actual defence or answer service, together with complete subsequent pleading history
- Rule
- Court Procedures Rules 2006 (ACT) r 483 (1) (b) [R73, effective August 1, 2026]
Authorised ACT Court Procedures Rules 2006 republication 73, effective August 1, 2026. Official current register and full authorised PDF retained. Legislation Act republication 126 and ACT published 2026–2027 calendars retained. Canberra. Compiled published ACT public holidays and rule 6300 standard Registry closures. Additional actual closures may be supplied but cannot remove compiled closures. The August bank holiday is excluded only for an act by or in relation to an authorised deposit-taking institution, outside this model.
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When does the ACT closure of pleadings period end?
On subsequent pleading service, otherwise 7 days after defence or answer service. Identify the closure of pleadings under the applicable rule 483 branch. A later pleading closes pleadings on its service day. The 7 day branch cannot be selected from a defence date alone. Status-calendar interaction requires a bounded legal review before a computed date.
Responsible actor. Parties whose pleading sequence is closing.
Actual defence or answer service, together with complete subsequent pleading history
On subsequent pleading service, otherwise 7 days after defence or answer service
Entire served pleading history established; Third-party or subsequent notice sequence separately identified. A later pleading closes pleadings on its service day. The 7 day branch cannot be selected from a defence date alone. Status-calendar interaction requires a bounded legal review before a computed date.
Court Procedures Rules 2006 (ACT) r 483 (1) (b) [R73, effective August 1, 2026]How does this provision count time?
- Identify the closure of pleadings under the applicable rule 483 branch
- Rule 483 closes pleadings on service of the subsequent pleading where that branch applies. Without a subsequent pleading, retain the seven-calendar-day status boundary. Do not infer a filing-day carry or Christmas action pause.
- Rule 483 fixes a procedural-state event. This is not a period for filing a document. Preserve actual subsequent pleading service; the no-subsequent-pleading limb ends seven calendar days after the confirmed defence or answer service. No completion-day carry or Christmas action pause is inferred.
- The court may extend or shorten the procedural period under rule 6351. The actual order replaces this ordinary source model.
Rule 483 closes pleadings on service of the subsequent pleading where that branch applies. Without a subsequent pleading, retain the seven-calendar-day status boundary. Do not infer a filing-day carry or Christmas action pause.
Rule 483 fixes a procedural-state event. This is not a period for filing a document. Preserve actual subsequent pleading service; the no-subsequent-pleading limb ends seven calendar days after the confirmed defence or answer service. No completion-day carry or Christmas action pause is inferred.
Court Procedures Rules 2006 (ACT) r 483 (1) (b) [R73, effective August 1, 2026]What do independently checked examples show?
Fictitious example
Actual actual defence or answer service, together with complete subsequent pleading history on October12,2026. All stated branch facts apply.
| Step | What is counted | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Example 1. Ordinary established facts | Actual actual defence or answer service, together with complete subsequent pleading history on October12,2026. All stated branch facts apply. On subsequent pleading service, otherwise 7 days after defence or answer service. Identify the closure of pleadings under the applicable rule 483 branch. The independent counted-date record retains any excluded days and controlling branch endpoints. | Monday, October 19, 2026 |
| Example 2. Closed-day boundary | Actual actual defence or answer service, together with complete subsequent pleading history on December21,2026. The procedural count encounters the prescribed Christmas period. On subsequent pleading service, otherwise 7 days after defence or answer service. Identify the closure of pleadings under the applicable rule 483 branch. The independent counted-date record retains any excluded days and controlling branch endpoints. | Monday, December 28, 2026 |
| Example 3. Material procedural branch | The actual prerequisite or controlling branch is absent. A later pleading closes pleadings on its service day. The7day branch cannot be selected from a defence date alone. Status-calendar interaction requires a bounded legal review before a computed date. The illustrative event date is Monday, October 12, 2026. Missing branch facts prevent an automated endpoint. Establish the source-specific actor, event and branch. A later pleading closes pleadings on its service day. The7day branch cannot be selected from a defence date alone. Status-calendar interaction requires a bounded legal review before a computed date. | Establish the source-specific actor, event and branch. A later pleading closes pleadings on its service day. The7day branch cannot be selected from a defence date alone. Status-calendar interaction requires a bounded legal review before a computed date. |
Fictitious established facts. These examples do not establish eligibility, effective service, relief or a direction.
Try these dates in the calculatorWhich conditions and exceptions apply?
- Entire served pleading history established
- Entire served pleading history established
- Third-party or subsequent notice sequence separately identified
- Third-party or subsequent notice sequence separately identified
- Entire served pleading history established; Third-party or subsequent notice sequence separately identified. A later pleading closes pleadings on its service day. The 7 day branch cannot be selected from a defence date alone. Status-calendar interaction requires a bounded legal review before a computed date.
- A later pleading closes pleadings on its service day. The 7 day branch cannot be selected from a defence date alone. Status-calendar interaction requires a bounded legal review before a computed date.
What must the responsible actor complete?
Questions about this procedure
When does the ACT closure of pleadings period end?
What event starts the ACT close of pleadings clock?
Actual defence or answer service, together with complete subsequent pleading history. Parties whose pleading sequence is closing. A later pleading closes pleadings on its service day. The 7 day branch cannot be selected from a defence date alone. Status-calendar interaction requires a bounded legal review before a computed date.
Court Procedures Rules 2006 (ACT) r 483 (1) (b) [R73, effective August 1, 2026]What must be filed or served for close of pleadings?
Identify the closure of pleadings under the applicable rule 483 branch. Complete it with No new filing recipient; this is a procedural-state boundary. Ordinary closure of pleadings under the confirmed history does not prove that the act occurred.
Court Procedures Rules 2006 (ACT) r 483 (1) (b) [R73, effective August 1, 2026]When does the stated period apply to close of pleadings?
On subsequent pleading service, otherwise 7 days after defence or answer service. Entire served pleading history established; Third-party or subsequent notice sequence separately identified.
Court Procedures Rules 2006 (ACT) r 483 (1) (b) [R73, effective August 1, 2026]Which material branch changes close of pleadings?
A later pleading closes pleadings on its service day. The 7 day branch cannot be selected from a defence date alone. Status-calendar interaction requires a bounded legal review before a computed date.
Court Procedures Rules 2006 (ACT) r 483 (1) (b) [R73, effective August 1, 2026]How do closed days affect close of pleadings?
Rule 483 closes pleadings on service of the subsequent pleading where that branch applies. Without a subsequent pleading, retain the seven-calendar-day status boundary. Do not infer a filing-day carry or Christmas action pause. Rule 483 fixes a procedural-state event. This is not a period for filing a document. Preserve actual subsequent pleading service; the no-subsequent-pleading limb ends seven calendar days after the confirmed defence or answer service. No completion-day carry or Christmas action pause is inferred. Legislation Act 2001 sections 151 and 151A provide the separate statutory inclusion and completion rules.
Court Procedures Rules 2006 (ACT) r 483 (1) (b) [R73, effective August 1, 2026]Can an order or another source term change close of pleadings?
The court may extend or shorten the procedural period under rule 6351. The actual order replaces this ordinary source model.
Court Procedures Rules 2006 (ACT) r 483 (1) (b) [R73, effective August 1, 2026]Official sources and review
Provisions used (3)
| Provision | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Court Procedures Rules 2006 (ACT) r 483 (1) (b) [R73, effective August 1, 2026] | Check the identified procedure, event, counting rule or qualification |
| Court Procedures Rules 2006 (ACT), rules 6300, 6350 and 6351 [R73] | Check the identified procedure, event, counting rule or qualification |
| Legislation Act 2001 (ACT), sections 151, 151A and 151C [R126] | Check the identified procedure, event, counting rule or qualification |