Federal notice of appeal deadline calculator
The time to file a notice of appeal in a federal civil case under FRAP 4(a), counted from entry under FRAP 26(a). Enter the entry date and the result quotes the rule and the definition of entry.
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FRAP 4(a)(7): When a judgment or order is entered for purposes of Rule 4(a). If Civil Rule 58(a) requires a separate document, entry occurs at the earlier of the separate document or 150 days after entry in the civil docket. Drives the entry warning on every row counted from entry under Rule 4(a).
Rule text: FRAP 4(a)(7)
(7) Entry Defined. (A) A judgment or order is entered for purposes of this Rule 4(a): (i) if Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 58(a) does not require a separate document, when the judgment or order is entered in the civil docket under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 79(a); or (ii) if Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 58(a) requires a separate document, when the judgment or order is entered in the civil docket under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 79(a) and when the earlier of these events occurs: • the judgment or order is set forth on a separate document, or • 150 days have run from entry of the judgment or order in the civil docket under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 79(a). (B) A failure to set forth a judgment or order on a separate document when required by Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 58(a) does not affect the validity of an appeal from that judgment or order.
Official source: FRAP 4(a)(7)
Example: Notice of appeal (FRAP 4(a)(1)(A)), from Friday, November 20, 2026
MON
Monday, December 21, 2026
This date rolled
- 30 daysFRAP 4(a)(1)(A)
- Rolled to Dec 21, 2026
- Dec 21, 2026
Notes on this date
- This calculator does not yet apply state holidays. Rule 6(a)(6)(C) also treats as a legal holiday, for periods that are measured after an event, "any other day declared a holiday by the state where the district court is located" (for an appeal, FRAP 26(a)(6)(C) adds the state of the circuit clerk's principal office). Leaving a state holiday out can only move a forward deadline earlier, never later. That is the safe error if you are computing your own deadline. It is the wrong tool for arguing that the other side filed late: check that state's holidays first.
- FRAP 26(c) does not apply: this period runs from entry, not from being served.
- Filed with the district clerk, so the district court's time zone sets when the last day ends (FRAP 26(a)(4)(A)). Counted from entry as Rule 4(a)(7) defines it. Where Civil Rule 58(a) requires a separate document, 'entry' may not be the docket date you enter.
- Unless a statute, local rule or court order sets a different time, FRAP 26(a)(4)(A) ends the last day for electronic filing in the district court at midnight in the court's time zone. No district was chosen, so the zone is not shown.
How this was computed
- Trigger → Nov 20, 2026 after entry of the judgment or order appealed from
- Count → Dec 20, 2026
- Rolled forward to the next open day → Dec 21, 2026 Sunday, December 20, 2026
Not yet countersigned. The rule text was transcribed from the official source; no attorney has countersigned this row.
Rule text: FRAP 4(a)(1)(A)
(A) In a civil case, except as provided in Rules 4(a)(1)(B), 4(a)(4), and 4(c), the notice of appeal required by Rule 3 must be filed with the district clerk within 30 days after entry of the judgment or order appealed from.
(7) Entry Defined. (A) A judgment or order is entered for purposes of this Rule 4(a): (i) if Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 58(a) does not require a separate document, when the judgment or order is entered in the civil docket under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 79(a); or (ii) if Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 58(a) requires a separate document, when the judgment or order is entered in the civil docket under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 79(a) and when the earlier of these events occurs: • the judgment or order is set forth on a separate document, or • 150 days have run from entry of the judgment or order in the civil docket under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 79(a). (B) A failure to set forth a judgment or order on a separate document when required by Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 58(a) does not affect the validity of an appeal from that judgment or order.
Official source: FRAP 4(a)(1)(A)
Not yet countersigned. The rule text was transcribed from the official source; no attorney has countersigned this row.
Enter your dates and the example above is replaced by your result.
Not legal advice. 68 rule rows transcribed from the official text on 2026-09-30. None has been countersigned yet. Check every date yourself. Read the full disclaimer
The calculators apply the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure and the removal statutes in title 28 of the U.S. Code, each quoted from the official text and cited to the subdivision. Every rule row shows its status on the rule verification record. 68 of 68 rule rows and 21 of 21 authority rows are not yet countersigned by an attorney.
Local rules and a judge's standing orders may change these dates. No district's local rules or chambers rules are applied yet.
This calculator does not yet apply state holidays. Rule 6(a)(6)(C) also treats as a legal holiday, for periods that are measured after an event, "any other day declared a holiday by the state where the district court is located" (for an appeal, FRAP 26(a)(6)(C) adds the state of the circuit clerk's principal office). Leaving a state holiday out can only move a forward deadline earlier, never later. That is the safe error if you are computing your own deadline. It is the wrong tool for arguing that the other side filed late: check that state's holidays first.
Check every date against the rule, the local rules and any order in your case before relying on it. Using this site creates no attorney-client relationship. See the terms of use.
How the math works
Step 1: count. Under FRAP 26(a)(1), the day of the event that starts the period is left out, every day is counted, weekends and legal holidays included, and the last day is included. A period measured before an event, such as disclosures due 30 days before trial, is counted backward from the event.
Step 2: roll. If the last day is a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday, a period measured after an event runs to the next day that is not one. A period measured before an event moves back to the day before under FRAP 26(a)(5). Each result names the days it rolled over.
Step 3: legal holidays. FRAP 26(a)(6) lists the days set aside by statute, the days the President or Congress declares, and state holidays. This calculator applies the statutory days, the Friday or Monday on which federal employees observe a weekend holiday, and the days the President closed the executive branch (4 since 2024, listed on the federal legal holidays page). The observed days are treated as legal holidays; no court of appeals has decided that point, so a result that moves only because of one also shows the observed day as the safe date. A day the President closes the executive branch is treated as a day declared a holiday by the President; the Ninth Circuit has not decided this. The Federal Register was read for closure orders through September 30, 2026.
This calculator does not yet apply state holidays. Rule 6(a)(6)(C) also treats as a legal holiday, for periods that are measured after an event, "any other day declared a holiday by the state where the district court is located" (for an appeal, FRAP 26(a)(6)(C) adds the state of the circuit clerk's principal office). Leaving a state holiday out can only move a forward deadline earlier, never later. That is the safe error if you are computing your own deadline. It is the wrong tool for arguing that the other side filed late: check that state's holidays first.
Step 4: the 3 added days. FRAP 26(c) adds 3 days when a party may or must act within a time after being served, unless the paper was served electronically or delivered on the date stated in the proof of service. A notice of appeal runs from entry of the judgment or order, not from service, so FRAP 26(c) adds nothing to it.
Step 5: when the last day ends. Unless a statute, local rule or court order sets a different time, the last day for electronic filing ends at midnight in the court's time zone. The result shows the time only where the court's own document states the zone, which today is the Southern District of California; everywhere else it says the zone is not confirmed. The rule speaks only of filing, so the line appears only on filing deadlines.
An inaccessible clerk's office. This calculator does not know when a clerk's office is inaccessible. FRAP 26(a)(6) lists holidays set by statute or declared by the President, Congress or a state; a court's own closure order is not on that list. Courts disagree whether an open e-filing system defeats inaccessibility, so filing on or before a closure day is the safe course.
What is particular to these rows. Every period here runs from entry or filing, so FRAP 26(c) adds nothing. Where Civil Rule 58(a) requires a separate document, "entry" under FRAP 4(a)(7) may not be the docket date you enter. For appellate deadlines in the Ninth Circuit, a note appears when the date lands on the day after Thanksgiving, because the circuit clerk's office is in San Francisco.
Rows this calculator covers
| Deadline | Rule | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Notice of appeal (FRAP 4(a)(1)(A)) | FRAP 4(a)(1)(A) | Not yet countersigned |
| Notice of appeal, federal party in the case (FRAP 4(a)(1)(B)) | FRAP 4(a)(1)(B) | Not yet countersigned |
| Notice of appeal after another party appeals (FRAP 4(a)(3)) | FRAP 4(a)(3) | Not yet countersigned |
| Notice of appeal after a listed post-judgment motion (FRAP 4(a)(4)) | FRAP 4(a)(4) | Not yet countersigned |
| Motion to extend the time to appeal (FRAP 4(a)(5)(A)(i)) | FRAP 4(a)(5)(A)(i) | Not yet countersigned |
| Notice of appeal after reopening (FRAP 4(a)(6)) | FRAP 4(a)(6) | Not yet countersigned |
| When a judgment or order is entered for purposes of Rule 4(a). If Civil Rule 58(a) requires a separate document, entry occurs at the earlier of the separate document or 150 days after entry in the civil docket. A note, with no date. | FRAP 4(a)(7) | Not yet countersigned |
The verbatim text, source, edition and page of every row are on the rule verification record.
Common questions
How long is there to file a notice of appeal in a federal civil case?
30 days after entry of the judgment or order appealed from (FRAP 4(a)(1)(A)). The time is 60 days if one of the parties is the United States, a United States agency, a United States officer or employee sued in an official capacity, or a current or former United States officer or employee sued in an individual capacity for an act or omission in connection with duties performed on the United States' behalf (FRAP 4(a)(1)(B)). The 60 days run for every party, not only the federal one.
Where is the notice of appeal filed, and when does the last day end?
With the district clerk. Unless a different time is set, the last day for electronic filing ends at midnight in the district court's time zone (FRAP 26(a)(4)(A)). The calculator shows the time where the court's own document states the zone.
Does a post-judgment motion change the deadline?
A timely motion listed in FRAP 4(a)(4) restarts the time to appeal, which then runs from entry of the order disposing of the last remaining motion. The list is a motion for judgment under Civil Rule 50(b), to amend or make additional findings under Rule 52(b), for attorney's fees under Rule 54 if the district court extends the time to appeal under Rule 58, to alter or amend the judgment under Rule 59, for a new trial under Rule 59, and for relief under Rule 60 if filed within the time allowed for a Rule 59 motion.
What if the deadline was missed?
FRAP 4(a)(5) lets the district court extend the time if a party moves no later than 30 days after the time prescribed by Rule 4(a) expires and shows excusable neglect or good cause; the calculator gives the date the motion is due. FRAP 4(a)(6) lets the court reopen the time for 14 days in limited circumstances, and the motion to reopen has its own limits, quoted in the rule text on the result.