Oregon courts
What is the deadline for appear and defend an ordinary Oregon civil action?
The period for appear and defend an ordinary Oregon civil action normally runs 30 calendar days from service of the summons on the defendant, under ORCP 7 C(2); ORCP 15 A. If the final day is a Saturday, Sunday or Oregon legal holiday, the computation rule carries it to the next day that is not. Oregon legal holidays for 2026 and 2027 are applied; a local court closure or a holiday declared by the Governor or the President can extend the deadline further.
- Period
- 30 calendar days
- Trigger
- Service of the summons on the defendant
- Rule
- ORCP 7 C(2); ORCP 15 A
Oregon rules as encoded, 2026 and 2027 legal holidays bundled
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Which date starts the 30-day period?
The period runs from the service of the summons on the defendant.
For ORCP 7 C(2); ORCP 15 A, count forward from the trigger event. Confirm the event on the docket or in the service record before entering a date.
Read Oregon Judicial Department court rulesIf the summons is served by any manner other than publication, the defendant shall appear and defend within 30 days from the date of service.
ORCP 7 C(2); ORCP 15 A
This period runs from service as the rule defines it. Do not substitute the filing date, the day a courtesy copy arrived or the day you first read the paper. Confirm that event before applying ORCP 7 C(2); ORCP 15 A.
Which date do I enter?How are the 30 calendar days counted?
- ORCP 7 C(2); ORCP 15 A. Exclude the day of the trigger event.
- Count every following day, including intermediate Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays.
- If the last day is a Saturday, Sunday or Oregon legal holiday, continue to the next day that is not one of those.
The ORCP 7 C(2); ORCP 15 A record uses this method. Exclude the trigger day and count calendar days under ORCP 10 A.
For ORCP 7 C(2); ORCP 15 A, if the final day is a Saturday, Sunday or Oregon legal holiday, the computation rule carries it to the next day that is not. Oregon legal holidays for 2026 and 2027 are applied; a local court closure or a holiday declared by the Governor or the President can extend the deadline further.
The supporting computation provision for ORCP 7 C(2); ORCP 15 A adds this boundary. Oregon computes time under ORCP 10 A. The calculator applies Oregon legal holidays for 2026 and 2027. A local court closure, an emergency closure or a holiday declared by the Governor or the President is not bundled and can extend the deadline.
Read ORCP 10 AThe calculation applies the ordinary method recorded for ORCP 7 C(2); ORCP 15 A. Check applicable holidays, court accessibility and the filing cutoff separately.
Review the filing checklistWhat does a worked calculation look like?
Fictitious example
Assume the service of the summons on the defendant on Tuesday, September 1, 2026 (service of the summons on the defendant on this date, with no order, motion or extension affecting the period), with no order, motion, extension or local closure affecting the result. Exclude the trigger day and count calendar days under ORCP 10 A. The example assumes no local rule, order or closure changes the ordinary period under ORCP 7 C(2); ORCP 15 A.
| Step | What is counted | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Service | Do not count this day | September 1, 2026 |
| Day 1 | Start counting calendar days | September 2, 2026 |
| Day 30 | Ordinary deadline in this example | October 1, 2026 |
Can an order, motion or extension change the deadline?
- Extensions
- A special rule or court order may alter the response route. The calculator assumes no alteration.
- Orders and local rules
- A scheduling order, approved stipulation, standing order or local rule can control over the ordinary period described by ORCP 7 C(2); ORCP 15 A.
- A special rule or court order may alter the response route. The calculator assumes no alteration.
- A stipulation, scheduling order, standing order or local rule can control over the ordinary period described by ORCP 7 C(2); ORCP 15 A.
What should I check before filing?
Common questions
Starting the clock
Does the clock start on the service of the summons on the defendant, or when I first learned of it?
Under ORCP 7 C(2); ORCP 15 A, the period runs from the service of the summons on the defendant, not from the day you read about it, received a courtesy copy or attended a hearing. Use the date shown on the docket or in the service record.
Counting days and filing
Is it 30 calendar days or business days?
For ORCP 7 C(2); ORCP 15 A, count calendar days, including intermediate weekends and holidays. If the final day is a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday, ORCP 10 A carries it forward as provided by that rule.
ORCP 10 AWhich time zone and filing cutoff apply?
Oregon filing rules and the court’s electronic filing system set the cutoff. This calculator does not verify filing hours or system availability. Confirm that boundary before relying on a ORCP 7 C(2); ORCP 15 A result.
ORCP 10 AWhat if the court is inaccessible on the last day?
ORCP 10 A and the court’s administrative orders govern an inaccessible clerk’s office. Check the court’s notices. This calculator does not predict a closure. This check remains separate from the ordinary ORCP 7 C(2); ORCP 15 A count.
ORCP 10 AExtensions and local rules
Can the court extend this deadline?
A special rule or court order may alter the response route. The calculator assumes no alteration. A request does not itself extend the period under ORCP 7 C(2); ORCP 15 A, and no discretionary extension is calculated here.
Do local rules, standing orders or a scheduling order change the date?
They can. A local rule, standing order or case-specific order can control over the ordinary period calculated under ORCP 7 C(2); ORCP 15 A. Compare the result with every applicable order before relying on it.
Choosing the right calculator
Does this calculator decide whether the rule applies to my case?
No. It calculates a period from the date you provide under ORCP 7 C(2); ORCP 15 A. It does not decide whether the rule governs your filing, whether an exception applies, or whether the filing has merit.
Can I calculate the deadline without an account?
Yes. Enter the trigger date to see the free calculation under ORCP 7 C(2); ORCP 15 A, including the citation, counting steps and warnings. Court-specific facts can keep a result provisional.
Results, records and your case
What is included in an Evidence Record?
An eligible ORCP 7 C(2); ORCP 15 A record retains the inputs, result, cited rule, calculation working, warnings and review state. It records that calculation and its fingerprint, not a guarantee of legal correctness.
Does saving to a case activate the calendar?
Not automatically. A provisional ORCP 7 C(2); ORCP 15 A result remains subject to review, and a separately labeled manual date does not alter the original calculation.
Official sources and review
Provisions used (2)
| Provision | Purpose |
|---|---|
| ORCP 7 C(2); ORCP 15 A | Trigger and period |
| ORCP 10 A | Counting, holidays and the last day |