Washington courts
When must I Answer an ordinary Washington civil complaint personally served in Washington?
You normally must Answer an ordinary Washington civil complaint personally served in Washington within 20 calendar days after service of the summons and complaint on the defendant in Washington under CR 4, under Washington CR 12(a)(1). If the final day is a Saturday, Sunday or Washington legal holiday, the computation rule carries it to the next day that is not. Washington 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
- 20 calendar days
- Trigger
- Service of the summons and complaint on the defendant in Washington under CR 4
- Rule
- Washington CR 12(a)(1)
Washington rules as encoded, 2026 and 2027 legal holidays bundled
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Which date starts the 20-day period?
The period runs from the service of the summons and complaint on the defendant in Washington under CR 4.
For Washington CR 12(a)(1), count forward from the trigger event. Confirm the event on the docket or in the service record before entering a date.
Read Washington Courts court rules(1) Within 20 days, exclusive of the day of service, after the service of the summons and complaint upon the defendant pursuant to rule 4
Washington CR 12(a)(1)
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 Washington CR 12(a)(1).
Which date do I enter?How are the 20 calendar days counted?
- Washington CR 12(a)(1). 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 Washington legal holiday, continue to the next day that is not one of those.
The Washington CR 12(a)(1) record uses this method. Exclude the trigger day and count calendar days under Washington CR 6(a).
For Washington CR 12(a)(1), if the final day is a Saturday, Sunday or Washington legal holiday, the computation rule carries it to the next day that is not. Washington 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 Washington CR 12(a)(1) adds this boundary. Washington computes time under Washington CR 6(a). The calculator applies Washington 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 Washington CR 6(a)The calculation applies the ordinary method recorded for Washington CR 12(a)(1). 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 and complaint on the defendant in Washington under CR 4 on Tuesday, September 1, 2026 (service of the summons and complaint on the defendant in Washington under CR 4 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 Washington CR 6(a). The example assumes no local rule, order or closure changes the ordinary period under Washington CR 12(a)(1).
| Step | What is counted | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Service | Do not count this day | September 1, 2026 |
| Day 1 | Start counting calendar days | September 2, 2026 |
| Day 20 | Ordinary deadline in this example | September 21, 2026 |
Can an order, motion or extension change the deadline?
- Extensions
- Any enlargement is governed by Washington CR 6(b), the applicable rule and a valid court order.
- Orders and local rules
- A scheduling order, approved stipulation, standing order or local rule can control over the ordinary period described by Washington CR 12(a)(1).
- Any enlargement is governed by Washington CR 6(b), the applicable rule and a valid court order.
- A stipulation, scheduling order, standing order or local rule can control over the ordinary period described by Washington CR 12(a)(1).
What should I check before filing?
Common questions
Starting the clock
Does the clock start on the service of the summons and complaint on the defendant in Washington under CR 4, or when I first learned of it?
Under Washington CR 12(a)(1), the period runs from the service of the summons and complaint on the defendant in Washington under CR 4, 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 20 calendar days or business days?
For Washington CR 12(a)(1), count calendar days, including intermediate weekends and holidays. If the final day is a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday, Washington CR 6(a) carries it forward as provided by that rule.
Washington CR 6(a)Which time zone and filing cutoff apply?
Washington 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 Washington CR 12(a)(1) result.
Washington CR 6(a)What if the court is inaccessible on the last day?
Washington CR 6(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 Washington CR 12(a)(1) count.
Washington CR 6(a)Extensions and local rules
Can the court extend this deadline?
Any enlargement is governed by Washington CR 6(b), the applicable rule and a valid court order. A request does not itself extend the period under Washington CR 12(a)(1), 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 Washington CR 12(a)(1). 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 Washington CR 12(a)(1). 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 Washington CR 12(a)(1), 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 Washington CR 12(a)(1) 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 Washington CR 12(a)(1) 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 |
|---|---|
| Washington CR 12(a)(1) | Trigger and period |
| Washington CR 6(a) | Counting, holidays and the last day |