When must a plaintiff take default-judgment proceedings?

Establish this defendant’s actual default using valid service, the applicable response or trial event and any extension.

Identify and preserve the proceedings actually taken for entry of judgment, not merely a demand letter.

Responsible actor. The plaintiff seeking entry against this defaulting defendant. The CPLR 3215(c) proceedings-for-entry boundary. It does not require the court to finish entering judgment within one year.

1. Establish this defendant’s actual default using valid service, the applicable response or trial event and any extension.
2. Identify and preserve the proceedings actually taken for entry of judgment, not merely a demand letter.
3. Use twelve calendar months for each year under GCL 58 and the corresponding-day rule in GCL 30.
4. Take legally sufficient proceedings for entry within the year and supply the default-judgment proof required by section 3215(f). Preserve completed application and service records.

GCL 20 excludes the established event day. These five-, ten-, fifteen-, twenty-, twenty-one-, thirty-, sixty- and ninety-day periods count intermediate calendar days. GCL 30 uses the corresponding calendar-month day, or the final day of a shorter month. GCL 58 defines a year as twelve months. GCL 25-a permits the next succeeding business day when the statutory final day is closed and expressly includes periods before which an act is required. The actual hearing or entry time and any different court direction remain separate checks. The independent calendar follows GCL 24 and Election Law 8-100. It includes Lincoln’s Birthday, the second Sunday in June as Flag Day, Juneteenth and general election day. GCL 24 adds the following day for a listed Sunday holiday except Flag Day. It does not generally move a Saturday holiday to Friday. Dates after 2027 are projections of the reviewed standing statute through 2033, not proof of future court openings. Check amendments, additional appointed holidays and actual closures separately.

The scoped calculators accept independently established events in 2026 and 2027 and projected final dates through 2033. They require the particular disclosed branch, no unsupported service-method addition, no unmodeled toll, no different actual court order and no additional closure. Earlier editions, historical tolls and outside dates require separate review and receive no computed or paid date. This software boundary does not establish that an act is legally late.

Fictitious example

The CPLR 3215(c) proceedings-for-entry boundary. It does not require the court to finish entering judgment within one year. Fictitious established facts. The CPLR 3215(c) proceedings-for-entry boundary. It does not require the court to finish entering judgment within one year.

Fictitious established facts. The date does not prove classification, valid service, jurisdiction, completed filing, a granted motion or an extension. Any earlier competing boundary, actual hour and future-calendar qualification still applies.

Entry versus proceedings

The statute concerns taking proceedings for entry. A later court entry is a different event.

Sufficient cause

Absent timely proceedings, the complaint is subject to abandonment dismissal unless sufficient cause is shown.

Multiple defendants

A timely application under section 3215(d) can seek coordinated proceedings after disposition against an answering defendant.

Edition and projected calendar

The scoped calculators accept independently established events in 2026 and 2027 and projected final dates through 2033. They require the particular disclosed branch, no unsupported service-method addition, no unmodeled toll, no different actual court order and no additional closure. Earlier editions, historical tolls and outside dates require separate review and receive no computed or paid date. This software boundary does not establish that an act is legally late.

• The CPLR 3215(c) proceedings-for-entry boundary. It does not require the court to finish entering judgment within one year.
• Use only the disclosed statutory component. Establish every omitted branch separately.

• Establish this defendant’s actual default using valid service, the applicable response or trial event and any extension.
• Identify and preserve the proceedings actually taken for entry of judgment, not merely a demand letter.
• Take legally sufficient proceedings for entry within the year and supply the default-judgment proof required by section 3215(f). Preserve completed application and service records.
• The statute concerns taking proceedings for entry. A later court entry is a different event.
• Absent timely proceedings, the complaint is subject to abandonment dismissal unless sufficient cause is shown.
• A timely application under section 3215(d) can seek coordinated proceedings after disposition against an answering defendant.
• In the applicable Supreme Court NYSCEF program, preserve recorded transmission and the required fee event under rule 202.5-b(d). Participating-party service has its own notification event under (f). Initiating filing does not itself serve the respondent. The clerk’s entry notification is not party service of notice of entry under (h)(2). Check actual paper receipt, exemptions, emergency procedure and qualifying technical-failure directions separately.