How long do parties have to respond to pleadings?

In California, parties have a set amount of time to respond to pleadings. Generally, a party must file an answer or other response within 30 days after the complaint is served, excluding any postponements granted by the court. Most districts also require the party responding to pleadings to serve copies of the response on all other parties. The time allotted to respond may be increased or decreased by the court based on the circumstances of the case. When responding to a counterclaim, a party must usually answer within 10 days of being served the counterclaim. Additionally, parties must respond to motions within 10 days. If the party does not respond within this time frame, the court can make orders and judgments in favor of the moving party. Parties may also have the opportunity to request an extension of time to respond to pleadings. If an extension is granted, the court will provide a new deadline for the party to file the necessary documents. Overall, it is important for parties involved in a civil case to be aware of the deadlines for responding to pleadings. Failure to respond in a timely manner may result in the court making orders and judgments, or adverse decisions, that could have been avoided.

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How long do parties have to respond to pleadings?

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