When must the Rule 26(f) discovery-plan report be submitted?

Preserve the actual Rule 26(f) conference date, rather than an intended conference or the later report date.

Identify the attorneys of record and appeared unrepresented parties jointly responsible for submission.

Check Rule 26(f)(4), local instructions and actual orders before using the ordinary fourteen-day written report.

1. Identify the actual actor, pleading and required act.
2. Establish the specified event and applicable order.
3. Exclude the verified event day and count the scoped calendar-day period.
4. Check final-day conditions and preserve service and filing evidence separately.

Exclude the independently established event day and count the scoped period under Rule 6(a). This event does not itself invoke Rule 6(d). Check the actual procedure and any different applicable order or granted extension.

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.

Fictitious example

Fictitious dates. The actual conference occurs July 6. No shorter expedited local requirement or different actual order applies.

Fictitious dates. The applicable event is established independently. No different statute, court-set time, granted extension, additional declared holiday or clerk inaccessibility is assumed.

Joint responsibility

The stated attorneys and unrepresented parties jointly arrange the conference, attempt good-faith agreement and submit the report.

Plan content

Rule 26(f)(3) covers disclosure timing, discovery subjects and phases, electronically stored information, privilege procedures, discovery limitations and proposed orders. The 2025 text expressly includes timing and method for Rule 26(b)(5)(A) compliance.

Expedited local procedure or extension

Rule 26(f)(4) may require filing earlier or allow an oral report. Check that separately. An actual Rule 6(b)(1) extension requires good cause. Before expiry the court may act, or a request may be made, with or without motion or notice. After expiry a motion requires excusable neglect. A pending request is not a granted extension.

• This page does not establish effective service, merits, compliance or an actual court grant.
• Service and filing are different acts. Verify both when required.

• Preserve the actual Rule 26(f) conference date, rather than an intended conference or the later report date.
• The stated attorneys and unrepresented parties jointly arrange the conference, attempt good-faith agreement and submit the report.
• Rule 26(f)(3) covers disclosure timing, discovery subjects and phases, electronically stored information, privilege procedures, discovery limitations and proposed orders. The 2025 text expressly includes timing and method for Rule 26(b)(5)(A) compliance.
• Rule 26(f)(4) may require filing earlier or allow an oral report. Check that separately. An actual Rule 6(b)(1) extension requires good cause. Before expiry the court may act, or a request may be made, with or without motion or notice. After expiry a motion requires excusable neglect. A pending request is not a granted extension.
• For filing, Rule 6(a)(4) ordinarily uses midnight in the court’s time zone for electronic filing and scheduled clerk closing for other filing. A statute, local rule or order may set another time. These filing cutoffs do not establish effective service by every method. Preserve evidence of each actual required act.