Bermuda civil and statutory proceedings
When are Bermuda pleadings deemed closed?
Ordinarily fourteen days after the controlling pleading is served. Identify deemed closure before taking later procedural steps. Use the reply branch, the defence-to-counterclaim-only branch, or the neither-response branch. An unfulfilled particulars request does not postpone closure.
- Period
- Ordinarily fourteen days after the controlling pleading is served
- Trigger
- Service of the reply, defence to counterclaim or defence under the applicable branch
- Rule
- Rules of the Supreme Court 1985 (GN 470/1985), Order 18, rule 20(1)
Rules of the Supreme Court 1985 (GN 470/1985), Order 18, rule 20(1). Official consolidated body retrieved October 10, 2026. Bermuda Laws Online states laws amended through August 11, 2026. The consolidation includes BR 10/2024, BR 4/2025 and BR 13/2026, each retained separately.
Source guide · No automated date
Check the applicable procedure
Use the reply branch, the defence-to-counterclaim-only branch, or the neither-response branch. An unfulfilled particulars request does not postpone closure. Establish service of the reply, defence to counterclaim or defence under the applicable branch and the actual completion required to identify deemed closure before taking later procedural steps.
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When are Bermuda pleadings deemed closed?
Ordinarily fourteen days after the controlling pleading is served. Identify deemed closure before taking later procedural steps. Use the reply branch, the defence-to-counterclaim-only branch, or the neither-response branch. An unfulfilled particulars request does not postpone closure.
Responsible actor. Parties identifying the procedural status of pleadings.
Service of the reply, defence to counterclaim or defence under the applicable branch.
Use the reply branch, the defence-to-counterclaim-only branch, or the neither-response branch. An unfulfilled particulars request does not postpone closure.
Use the reply branch, the defence-to-counterclaim-only branch, or the neither-response branch. An unfulfilled particulars request does not postpone closure.
Rules of the Supreme Court 1985 (GN 470/1985), Order 18, rule 20(1)How does this provision count time?
- Establish service of the reply, defence to counterclaim or defence under the applicable branch.
- Identify deemed closure before taking later procedural steps.
- This is a deemed status event, not a fourteen-day obligation to file a closure notice. Establish the actual pleading sequence.
- A closed Registry does not necessarily postpone a deemed closure event. Do not borrow a filing carry without authority.
This is a deemed status event, not a fourteen-day obligation to file a closure notice. Establish the actual pleading sequence.
A closed Registry does not necessarily postpone a deemed closure event. Do not borrow a filing carry without authority.
Rules of the Supreme Court 1985 (GN 470/1985), Order 18, rule 20(1)Which facts prevent one automatic date?
Use the reply branch, the defence-to-counterclaim-only branch, or the neither-response branch. An unfulfilled particulars request does not postpone closure. Establish service of the reply, defence to counterclaim or defence under the applicable branch and the actual completion required to identify deemed closure before taking later procedural steps.
Parties identifying the procedural status of pleadings establishes service of the reply, defence to counterclaim or defence under the applicable branch. This is a deemed status event, not a fourteen-day obligation to file a closure notice. Establish the actual pleading sequence. Ordinarily fourteen days after the controlling pleading is served. Identify deemed closure before taking later procedural steps. Establish actual completion before calculating a final date.
A proposed boundary intersects a closure or holiday while the party seeks to identify deemed closure before taking later procedural steps. A closed Registry does not necessarily postpone a deemed closure event. Do not borrow a filing carry without authority. Establish the applicable computation and completion rule. No assumed carried date is supplied.
A request for particulars remains unanswered when the ordinary closure period ends. Use the reply branch, the defence-to-counterclaim-only branch, or the neither-response branch. An unfulfilled particulars request does not postpone closure. Resolve the changed source branch and required act. The nominal period alone does not establish this scenario.
Which conditions and exceptions apply?
- Actual procedure and branch
- Use the reply branch, the defence-to-counterclaim-only branch, or the neither-response branch. An unfulfilled particulars request does not postpone closure.
- Count and complete the actual act
- This is a deemed status event, not a fourteen-day obligation to file a closure notice. Establish the actual pleading sequence. A closed Registry does not necessarily postpone a deemed closure event. Do not borrow a filing carry without authority.
- Actor and required completion
- Parties identifying the procedural status of pleadings. Identify deemed closure before taking later procedural steps.
- Use the reply branch, the defence-to-counterclaim-only branch, or the neither-response branch. An unfulfilled particulars request does not postpone closure.
- Parties identifying the procedural status of pleadings. Service of the reply, defence to counterclaim or defence under the applicable branch. Identify deemed closure before taking later procedural steps. Use the reply branch, the defence-to-counterclaim-only branch, or the neither-response branch. An unfulfilled particulars request does not postpone closure.
What must the responsible actor complete?
Questions about this procedure
When are Bermuda pleadings deemed closed?
Does the reply control when served?
Yes. Rule 20(1)(a) uses service of the reply.
Rules of the Supreme Court 1985 (GN 470/1985), Order 18, rule 20(1)What if there is only a defence to counterclaim?
That service starts the paragraph (a) period.
Rules of the Supreme Court 1985 (GN 470/1985), Order 18, rule 20(1)What if neither response is served?
Paragraph (b) uses service of the defence.
Rules of the Supreme Court 1985 (GN 470/1985), Order 18, rule 20(1)Does a pending particulars order postpone closure?
No. Rule 20(2) expressly addresses that situation.
Rules of the Supreme Court 1985 (GN 470/1985), Order 18, rule 20(1)Must a closure notice be filed?
This provision deems closure. It does not create a separate closure-notice filing duty.
Rules of the Supreme Court 1985 (GN 470/1985), Order 18, rule 20(1)Why establish closure accurately?
Discovery and the summons for directions use closure as an event.
Rules of the Supreme Court 1985 (GN 470/1985), Order 18, rule 20(1)Official sources and review
Provisions used (7)
| Provision | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Rules of the Supreme Court 1985 (GN 470/1985), Order 18, rule 20(1) | Check the identified procedure, event, counting rule or qualification |
| Order 3 rules 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6 | Check the identified procedure, event, counting rule or qualification |
| Rules of the Supreme Court Amendment Rules 2025, Order 18 rule 12 | Check the identified procedure, event, counting rule or qualification |
| Rules of the Supreme Court Amendment Rules 2026, new Order 14A | Check the identified procedure, event, counting rule or qualification |
| Interpretation Act 1951, sections 7–9 | Check the identified procedure, event, counting rule or qualification |
| Public Holidays Act 1947, sections 3–6 and Schedule | Check the identified procedure, event, counting rule or qualification |
| Rules of the Supreme Court Amendment Rules 2024, Order 62 and Schedule | Check the identified procedure, event, counting rule or qualification |