Deemed service β other documents (CPR 6.26). First class post and DX: the second day after the step, provided that day is a business day; if it is not, the next business day after it. Delivering, email, fax and personal service: the same day if done before 4.30pm on a business day; otherwise the next business day. βBusiness dayβ excludes Saturdays, Sundays, bank holidays, Good Friday and Christmas Day. There is a difference between the two counting methods: the second day (post and DX) is a calendar day that must itself be a business day, while the second business day (claim forms) skips non-business days in the count.
Deemed service β claim forms (CPR 6.14). A claim form served in the UK is deemed served on the second business day after completion of the relevant step under CPR 7.5(1) β posting, delivery, transmission. That is why a claim form posted on a Friday is deemed served on Tuesday. The rule applies whatever method of service was used, but only within the United Kingdom: for service out of the jurisdiction there is no deemed-service date at all, and the response periods come from CPR 6.35 (21 days for the acknowledgment, and 21 or 35 days for the defence, where the defendant is in Scotland or Northern Ireland) or from Practice Direction 6B where the defendant is elsewhere.
Counting the response periods (CPR 2.8). Time is computed in clear days: the day the period begins is not counted, so β14 days after serviceβ runs from the day after service and ends 14 days later. Where the period specified is 5 days or less, Saturdays, Sundays and bank holidays inside the period do not count (CPR 2.8(4)) β relevant to short notice periods, not to the 14- and 28-day response deadlines. If the time for doing an act at the court office ends on a day the office is closed, the act is in time if done on the next open day (CPR 2.8(5)) β but filing by CE-File or email is unaffected by a closed counter.
Response deadlines. Acknowledgment of service: 14 days after service of the particulars of claim where the claim form says they are to follow, otherwise 14 days after service of the claim form (CPR 10.3). Defence: 14 days after service of the particulars of claim, or 28 days if an acknowledgment of service is filed (CPR 15.4). The parties may agree in writing to extend the time for a defence by up to 28 days (CPR 15.5). Reply to a defence: within 14 days of service of the defence (CPR 15.8). Default judgment can be entered where an acknowledgment or defence is not filed in time (CPR 12.3), but not in every case (CPR 12.2 β for example, claims for delivery of goods, or where the defendant is a child or protected party).
Claim form validity (CPR 7.5). The claim form must be served within 4 months of issue, or 6 months where it is to be served out of the jurisdiction. The court may extend the time for service, and the parties may agree an extension in writing before the time for service expires (CPR 7.6) β but a failure to serve in time is ordinarily fatal, and a retrospective application is a difficult one. Where service is by post or DX, complete the step in time and remember that deemed service may fall after the deadline.
Particulars of claim (CPR 7.4). If they are not served with the claim form they must be served within 14 days after service of the claim form, and in any event no later than the last day for serving the claim form (the issue-plus-4-months date).
Email and fax service on a party requires consent. A party may be served electronically only if it has indicated in writing that it accepts service by that method (Practice Direction 6A, Β§4.1) β filing a CF-D or similar form may not be enough. β Information only, not legal advice. Based on the Civil Procedure Rules 1998, checked 4 October 2026.