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Civil Procedure Deadlines Flowchart

The course of a civil proceeding from filing of the claim to appeal, with the last day for each step calculated under the Civil Procedure Regulations, 5779-2018: court recess days are excluded, and the deadline is carried forward when the last day falls on a Friday, Saturday, holiday or recess day. Choose the procedure, enter the dates you know, and the flowchart updates.

For a single deadline, see the civil procedure deadlines calculator.

Civil Procedure Deadlines FlowchartCivil Procedure Regulations, 5779-2018 | Text as updated to 9 October 2026
Decision pointData entryCalculated deadlineSide track
Step 1

Which procedure governs the proceeding?

Affects the page limit for the response to the appeal (Regulation 140).

Step 2

Filing the statement of claim

A document not accepted for registration may be corrected by the last day for filing it or within 7 days of its rejection, whichever is later, and here, contrary to the general rule, the recess is counted (Regulation 33(c)). An advocate who has filed a document with the court must serve a copy on the opposing party without delay, and no later than 3 days or a reasonable time before the scheduled hearing, whichever is earlier (Regulation 160).

Step 3

Service of the statement of claim on the defendant

Dispatch after 17:00 on Sunday to Thursday, or on a Friday or a statutory day of rest, is deemed served on the next business day (Regulation 161(1)(d)). For a cautious calculation, Friday is treated here as a business day.

A statement of claim is served by mail or by personal delivery, and by electronic means only with the recipient's written consent; fax is not a method of serving a statement of claim (Regulations 161(2)(b) and 162(1)). The day of service is the reference day and is not counted; counting starts the following day (Regulation 179(a); section 10(a) of the Interpretation Law).

Calculated deadline

Last day for filing the statement of defence

The court may extend the time if satisfied that there are reasons justifying it (Regulation 9(b)). A defendant served with the statement of claim outside the State who wishes to contest jurisdiction must file an application by the deadline for the statement of defence, and the time for the statement of defence will then run from the decision on the application (Regulation 168).

Side track

Third-party notice

The defendant may issue a third-party notice within the time for filing the statement of defence, and the third party files a statement of defence within 60 days of service of the notice (Regulations 22 and 23(d)). In the expedited procedure, only with leave of the court and within 45 days (Regulation 80(b)). In eviction from a leased property, no third-party notice is permitted (Regulation 81(c)).

Step 4

Statement of defence filed and served on the plaintiff

The time for a reply runs from service of the statement of defence, not from its filing (Regulation 18(a)). Length of the reply: up to 3 pages (Regulation 18(b)).

Step 5

Was a reply filed?

Calculated deadlines

Preliminary proceedings after the last pleading

To calculate the deadline for completing inspection.
To calculate the deadline for answers.

Regulations 37(b), 49(b), 56(a) and 57 count from the filing of the last pleading, and Regulation 35(a) from its service; Regulation 58 counts from the exchange of discovery affidavits. Each deadline is calculated according to the wording of the relevant regulation, so the dates may differ.

Step 6

First pre-trial hearing scheduled

Deadlines "before" the hearing are counted backwards without counting recess days, and where the result falls on a Friday, Saturday, statutory day of rest or recess day, it is brought forward to the preceding business day (conservative approach).

Step 7

Date set for hearing evidence

The second half of the court fee is governed by the Courts (Fees) Regulations, 5767-2007, not by the Civil Procedure Regulations: in a monetary claim, no later than 20 days before the date first set for the hearing, meaning the hearing of evidence, or the hearing of arguments where there is no evidence; a pre-trial hearing is not a "hearing" for this purpose (Regulations 1 and 6(a)). For the amount and linkage, see the court fee calculator.

Side track

Written application and response

To calculate the prior approach to the opposing party.
To calculate the deadline for the supporting affidavit.

Response to an application: 20 days from service of the decision that the application requires a response, or another time set by the court (Regulation 50(3)); for an application in a main proceeding not commenced by a statement of claim, Regulation 54(a) applies. Regulation 50 sets no deadline for a "reply to a response". In the expedited procedure, the decision on the application is given within 7 days (Regulation 80(e)).

Side track

Interim temporary relief granted ex parte

Regulation 97(e) expressly provides that, for the date of the hearing, "recess days shall be counted", so the hearing date here is calculated including the recess. This rule does not apply to a temporary attachment order or an order for seizure of evidence. The deadline for an application to set aside (30 days) is calculated under the general rule.

Step 8

Decision or judgment given

For a cross-appeal.

"Decision" includes a judgment, a partial judgment and any other decision (Regulation 6). If given in the presence of the parties, time runs from the date of the hearing (Regulation 179(a)). Regulation 137(b) (appeal by a respondent) does not apply to an application for leave to appeal (Regulation 149(5)).

Basic assumptions

  • The reference day is the day of service, or, if the decision was given in the presence of the parties, the day of the hearing (Regulation 179(a)). That day itself is not counted (section 10(a) of the Interpretation Law, 5741-1981).
  • Recess days are not counted (Regulation 179(b)), unless you have indicated that the court ordered otherwise. Recesses under the Courts (Recess) Regulations, 5743-1983: Sukkot, 14 to 22 Tishrei; Passover, 14 to 21 Nisan; summer, 21 July to 5 September.
  • Saturdays and holidays within the period are counted. A last day falling on a Friday (Regulation 4 of the Courts (Recess) Regulations), a Saturday, a statutory day of rest or a recess day is carried forward to the next day that is not such a day (section 10(c) of the Interpretation Law).
  • An extension by consent or by decision, and any other time set by the court, prevail over the calculation. Verify the recess dates against the Courts Administration announcements for the relevant year, particularly any emergency provisions.

Disclaimer. The flowchart provides an estimate only, based on the data entered and the assumptions set out here. It does not constitute legal advice or a guarantee of any outcome. The binding deadline is determined by the Regulations, the court's decisions in the case and the Courts Administration announcements. When in doubt, act by the earlier deadline. The firm accepts no liability for any loss arising from use of the flowchart or reliance on its results.

How are days counted under the Regulations?

Time runs from the day the document was served, or, if the decision was given at a hearing in the presence of the parties, from the date of the hearing (Regulation 179(a) of the Civil Procedure Regulations). That day itself is not counted, and counting starts the following day (section 10(a) of the Interpretation Law). Days are calendar days, including Saturdays and holidays within the period, but recess days are not counted (Regulation 179(b)). When the last day falls on a Friday, Saturday, holiday or recess day, the deadline is carried forward to the next day that is not such a day.

What is the difference between "filed" and "served"?

Some deadlines run from the filing of the last pleading with the court (for example, discovery affidavits under Regulation 57 and applications under Regulation 49(b)), and others from its service on the opposing party (for example, the preliminary dialogue between the parties under Regulation 35(a) and the reply under Regulation 18(a)). The flowchart asks for both dates and calculates each deadline according to the wording of the applicable regulation.

When is the second half of the court fee paid?

In a monetary claim, no later than 20 days before the date first set for the hearing (hearing of evidence, or hearing of arguments where there is no evidence), plus linkage differentials, under the Courts (Fees) Regulations, 5767-2007. A pre-trial hearing is not considered a hearing for this purpose. You can calculate the amount and linkage with the court fee calculator, and for handling the case see civil litigation.

More calculators: Civil procedure deadlines | Court fee | Linkage and interest | Inspection and warranty periods | Notary fees | Apartment transaction calculators

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