United States · Court of Federal Claims
When must I move to alter or amend a Court of Federal Claims judgment?
An RCFC 59(e) motion to alter or amend judgment must be filed no later than 28 days after judgment entry. RCFC 6(b)(2) prohibits enlargement. A Rule 52 findings motion has a separate 30-day period.
- Period
- 28 calendar days
- Trigger
- Entry of judgment under RCFC 58
- Rule
- RCFC 59(e)
July 27, 2026 compilation
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Which judgment-entry date starts this period?
RCFC 59(e) starts from judgment entry. Apply RCFC 58(c), including the separate-document requirement where it applies.
Receipt of judgment notice and the date an opinion was issued are not substitute triggers. Check the judgment document and docket entry.
Rule 52(b) addresses amended or additional findings and uses 30 days. Rule 59(e) addresses altering or amending the judgment and uses 28 days.
RCFC 58(a) and (c)How are the 28 calendar days counted?
- Establish judgment entry under RCFC 58.
- Exclude that day.
- Count 28 calendar days.
- If the final day is a Saturday, Sunday or RCFC legal holiday, continue to the next day that is not. Check additional presidential or congressional holidays and clerk inaccessibility.
Exclude the established judgment-entry date. Count every following calendar day, including intermediate Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays.
Use the Rule 59(e) 28-day period even when a related Rule 52(b) findings motion would use 30 days. This calculator does not select grounds or reclassify a motion.
RCFC 6(a)(1)What does a worked calculation look like?
Fictitious example
Fictitious judgment entered August 3, 2026. The ordinary 28-day branch applies. Exclude August 3. August 4–31 supplies 28 days. August 31 is Monday.
| Step | What is counted | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Trigger | Established RCFC 58 judgment entry | August 3, 2026 |
| Count | 28 calendar days after entry | August 31, 2026 |
Fictitious dates. No additional declared holiday, clerk inaccessibility or different governing procedure is assumed.
Try these dates in the calculatorWhich limits and separate procedures should I check?
- No enlargement
- RCFC 6(b)(2) prohibits enlargement of the Rule 59(e) period. Filing an extension request does not establish more time.
- Different findings motion
- RCFC 52(b) permits amended or additional findings and corresponding judgment amendment within its separate 30-day period. Identify the actual motion before choosing a calculator.
- Rule 60 relief
- RCFC 60 addresses distinct grounds for relief and separate timing requirements. This 28-day calculation does not determine whether Rule 60 relief is available.
- Response only on request
- RCFC 59(f) permits a response to a Rule 59 motion only at the court’s request and within its specified time.
- This page does not compute a Rule 52 motion, new-trial motion, Rule 60 request or appeal.
- The calculated date does not establish grounds for amendment or a change to appeal finality.
What should I check before filing?
Common questions
The motion and governing procedure
Can I use the 30-day findings deadline for this motion?
RCFC 59(e) uses 28 days. Rule 52(b) uses 30 days for amended or additional findings and corresponding judgment amendment. The relief and governing rule decide which period applies.
RCFC 52(b)Does missing this period automatically give me Rule 60 relief?
No. RCFC 60 has distinct grounds and timing requirements. This calculator does not establish any Rule 60 ground or determine whether relief remains available.
RCFC 60(b) and (c)Can the opponent file a response automatically?
RCFC 59(f) permits a response only at the court’s request and within its specified time. Read the actual order rather than assuming a default response period.
RCFC 59(f)Entry, counting and filing
Does the opinion date always start the period?
No. Establish judgment entry under RCFC 58(c). When a separate document is required, entry uses the civil-docket entry and the earlier of a separate judgment document or 150 days after docket entry. When no separate document is required, civil-docket entry controls.
RCFC 58(a) and (c)Can the court enlarge this filing period under RCFC 6(b)?
No. RCFC 6(b)(2) prohibits enlargement of the periods under RCFC 52(b) and 59(b), (d) and (e). Final-day computation and qualifying clerk inaccessibility under Rule 6(a) remain separate issues.
RCFC 6(a)(3), (4) and (6); RCFC 6(b)(2) and (d)Does mailed notice of judgment add three days?
No. This period runs from judgment entry, not service. RCFC 6(d) applies to specified periods measured after service under Rule 5(b)(2)(C), (D) or (F). It does not add three days to this judgment-entry period.
RCFC 6(a)(3), (4) and (6); RCFC 6(b)(2) and (d)Which time zone controls electronic filing?
RCFC 6(a)(4)(A) specifies midnight in the Eastern Time Zone unless a statute or court order sets another time. Rule 6(a)(3) separately addresses actual clerk inaccessibility. Check the court’s filing system and any outage notice.
RCFC 6(a)(3), (4) and (6); RCFC 6(b)(2) and (d)Official sources and review
Provisions used (6)
| Provision | Purpose |
|---|---|
| RCFC 59(e) and (f) | 28-day judgment-amendment motion and court-requested response |
| RCFC 52(b) | Separate findings motion with a 30-day period |
| RCFC 60(b) and (c) | Distinct relief grounds and timing outside this calculator |
| RCFC 58(a) and (c) | Separate-document requirement and judgment entry |
| RCFC 6(a)(1) | Trigger-day exclusion and calendar-day counting |
| RCFC 6(a)(3), (4) and (6); RCFC 6(b)(2) and (d) | Final-day boundaries, holidays, inaccessibility and prohibited enlargement |