Cayman civil and statutory proceedings
When are Cayman pleadings deemed closed?
Fourteen days after the applicable final pleading service. Identify the deemed close before applying discovery and directions timetables. This is a procedural status event. An outstanding request or order for particulars does not prevent deemed closure.
- Period
- Fourteen days after the applicable final pleading service
- Trigger
- Service of the reply, defence to counterclaim alone, or defence where neither response is served
- Rule
- Grand Court Rules (2023 Revision), Order 18, rule 20(1)
Grand Court Rules (2023 Revision), Order 18, rule 20(1). Official current index and full primary bodies retained October 10, 2026. The 2024 replacement Orders 1 and 64 and 2026 Order 24 rule 7A amendment are retained separately.
Source guide · No automated date
Check the applicable procedure
This is a procedural status event. An outstanding request or order for particulars does not prevent deemed closure. Establish service of the reply, defence to counterclaim alone, or defence where neither response is served and the actual completion required to identify the deemed close before applying discovery and directions timetables.
Grand Court Rules (2023 Revision), Order 18, rule 20(1)What lawyers say
5.0“The platform is really easy to use.”
Michael B.Employment litigation attorney · California
“The Evidence Record saved us time with our insurance on bankruptcy matters.”
MariaBankruptcy and commercial attorney · London, UK
“The most up-to-date service we could find.”
Li ChenArbitration practitioner · Singapore
When are Cayman pleadings deemed closed?
Fourteen days after the applicable final pleading service. Identify the deemed close before applying discovery and directions timetables. This is a procedural status event. An outstanding request or order for particulars does not prevent deemed closure.
Responsible actor. Parties identifying the procedural close of pleadings.
Service of the reply, defence to counterclaim alone, or defence where neither response is served.
This is a procedural status event. An outstanding request or order for particulars does not prevent deemed closure.
This is a procedural status event. An outstanding request or order for particulars does not prevent deemed closure.
Grand Court Rules (2023 Revision), Order 18, rule 20(1)How does this provision count time?
- Establish service of the reply, defence to counterclaim alone, or defence where neither response is served.
- Identify the deemed close before applying discovery and directions timetables.
- Select rule 20(1)(a) or (b) from the actual pleadings served, then count after service.
- There is no Court Office act to postpone merely because the deemed close falls on a closed day.
Select rule 20(1)(a) or (b) from the actual pleadings served, then count after service.
There is no Court Office act to postpone merely because the deemed close falls on a closed day.
Grand Court Rules (2023 Revision), Order 18, rule 20(1)Which facts prevent one automatic date?
This is a procedural status event. An outstanding request or order for particulars does not prevent deemed closure. Establish service of the reply, defence to counterclaim alone, or defence where neither response is served and the actual completion required to identify the deemed close before applying discovery and directions timetables.
Parties identifying the procedural close of pleadings establishes service of the reply, defence to counterclaim alone, or defence where neither response is served. Select rule 20(1)(a) or (b) from the actual pleadings served, then count after service. Fourteen days after the applicable final pleading service. Identify the deemed close before applying discovery and directions timetables. Establish the actual completion facts before calculating a final date.
A proposed completion or status boundary intersects a closure or holiday while the party seeks to identify the deemed close before applying discovery and directions timetables. There is no Court Office act to postpone merely because the deemed close falls on a closed day. Establish the applicable closure and completion rule. This guide does not supply an assumed carried date.
Particulars remain outstanding when the fourteen-day period expires. This is a procedural status event. An outstanding request or order for particulars does not prevent deemed closure. Resolve the changed source branch and required completion. The nominal period alone does not establish this scenario.
Which conditions and exceptions apply?
- Actual procedure and branch
- This is a procedural status event. An outstanding request or order for particulars does not prevent deemed closure.
- Count and complete the actual act
- Select rule 20(1)(a) or (b) from the actual pleadings served, then count after service. There is no Court Office act to postpone merely because the deemed close falls on a closed day.
- Actor and required completion
- Parties identifying the procedural close of pleadings. Identify the deemed close before applying discovery and directions timetables.
- This is a procedural status event. An outstanding request or order for particulars does not prevent deemed closure.
- Parties identifying the procedural close of pleadings. Service of the reply, defence to counterclaim alone, or defence where neither response is served. Identify the deemed close before applying discovery and directions timetables. This is a procedural status event. An outstanding request or order for particulars does not prevent deemed closure.
What must the responsible actor complete?
Questions about this procedure
When are Cayman pleadings deemed closed?
Does an unanswered particulars request postpone closure?
No. Rule 20(2) expressly preserves deemed closure.
Grand Court Rules (2023 Revision), Order 18, rule 20(1)What if a reply is served?
The fourteen-day period runs after reply service.
Grand Court Rules (2023 Revision), Order 18, rule 20(1)What if only a counterclaim defence is served?
Use service of that defence under rule 20(1)(a).
Grand Court Rules (2023 Revision), Order 18, rule 20(1)What if neither response is served?
Use fourteen days after defence service under rule 20(1)(b).
Grand Court Rules (2023 Revision), Order 18, rule 20(1)Is a closure filing required?
Rule 20 deems closure. It does not require a separate closure notice.
Grand Court Rules (2023 Revision), Order 18, rule 20(1)Why does the correct branch matter?
Discovery and directions provisions use the deemed close as their own trigger.
Grand Court Rules (2023 Revision), Order 18, rule 20(1)Official sources and review
Provisions used (4)
| Provision | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Grand Court Rules (2023 Revision), Order 18, rule 20(1) | Check the identified procedure, event, counting rule or qualification |
| Grand Court Rules, Order 3 rules 1, 2, 4 and 5 | Check the identified procedure, event, counting rule or qualification |
| Grand Court (Amendment) Rules 2024, rules 1–3 and replacement Orders 1 and 64 | Check the identified procedure, event, counting rule or qualification |
| Grand Court (Amendment) Rules 2026, Order 24 rule 7A | Check the identified procedure, event, counting rule or qualification |