United States · Federal civil procedure
When is judgment entered if a required separate document is missing?
When a separate document is required, Rule 58(c)(2) requires civil-docket entry and the earlier of a separate document or one hundred fifty days after that entry. When none is required, subsection (c)(1) uses docket entry. One hundred fifty days is therefore not every judgment’s entry date. This guide calculates no entry date.
- Period
- One hundred fifty days is one alternative in the required-separate-document branch
- Trigger
- Actual civil-docket entry and the applicable separate-document or elapsed-time condition
- Rule
- FRCP 58(c)(2)
December 1, 2025 compilation
Source guide · No automated date
Establish the actual procedure and conditions
A separate-document determination and alternative-event comparison control entry. The nominal one-hundred-fifty-day preset does not establish the applicable branch or earlier event.
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Which event starts this procedure?
Apply Rule 58(a)’s separate-document requirement and specified exceptions to the actual disposition.
Preserve actual civil-docket entry under Rule 79(a).
When required, determine whether the judgment was set out in a separate document before the elapsed-time alternative.
FRCP 58(c)(2)Which timing conditions must be established?
- Identify the actual actor, pleading and required act.
- Establish the specified event and applicable order.
- Resolve the material conditions. This guide publishes no calculated date.
- Check final-day conditions and preserve service and filing evidence separately.
First establish the Rule 58(a) separate-document requirement. If required, preserve docket entry and compare the judgment actually being set out in a separate document with the elapsed-time alternative. Do not apply one hundred fifty days where no separate document is required or one was issued earlier.
Rule 6(a) excludes the operative event and counts intermediate calendar days. A final Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday moves forward. Rule 6(a)(6) includes federal and President or Congress declared holidays, plus state-declared holidays for forward periods in the district. Qualifying clerk inaccessibility matters separately for filing.
FRCP 6(a)(1)Why is no automated date published?
A separate-document determination and alternative-event comparison control entry. The nominal one-hundred-fifty-day preset does not establish the applicable branch or earlier event.
Which conditions change the assessment?
- Specified exceptions
- Rule 58(a) excepts the stated motion-disposition orders under Rules 50(b), 52(b), 54 for attorney’s fees, 59 and 60. Identify the actual order.
- Two entry branches
- Subsection (c)(1) uses docket entry without a separate-document requirement. Subsection (c)(2) requires docket entry and the earlier separate-document or elapsed-time condition when a document is required.
- Request and later periods
- Subsection (d) permits requesting a required document. Establish later motion and appeal periods under their own provisions.
- This page does not establish effective service, merits, compliance or an actual court grant.
- Service and filing are different acts. Verify both when required.
What should I verify before acting?
Common questions
This procedure and its conditions
Does every judgment use one hundred fifty days?
No. Check the document requirement and actual earlier document.
FRCP 58(c)(2)Do all motion-disposition orders require a separate document?
No. Rule 58(a) lists specific exceptions.
FRCP 58(c)(2)Can a party request a required document?
Yes. Rule 58(d) permits the request.
FRCP 58(c)(2)Official sources and review
Provisions used (5)
| Provision | Purpose |
|---|---|
| FRCP 58(c)(2) | This actor, required act, operative event and period |
| FRCP 58(a) | Requirement and beginning of exceptions |
| FRCP 58(a) and (c)–(e) | Completed exceptions, entry, request and cost or fee provisions |
| FRCP 6(a)(1) | Event exclusion and intermediate calendar days |
| FRCP 6(a)(3)–(6) and (b)(1) | Actual final-day conditions, filing boundaries and applicable extension limits |