Cal. Rules of Court, rule 3.110 · Chapter 2. Time for Service
Time for service of complaint, cross-complaint, and response
Text — As posted by the Judicial Council of California (read October 22, 2026)
(a) Application
This rule applies to the service of pleadings in civil cases except for collections cases under rule 3.740(a), unlawful detainer actions, proceedings under the Family Code, and other proceedings for which different service requirements are prescribed by law.
(b) Service of complaint
The complaint must be served on all named defendants and proofs of service on those defendants must be filed with the court within 60 days after the filing of the complaint. When the complaint is amended to add a defendant, the added defendant must be served and proof of service must be filed within 30 days after the filing of the amended complaint.
(c) Service of cross-complaint
A cross-complaint against a party who has appeared in the action must be accompanied by proof of service of the cross-complaint at the time it is filed. If the cross-complaint adds new parties, the cross-complaint must be served on all parties and proofs of service on the new parties must be filed within 30 days of the filing of the cross-complaint.
(d) Timing of responsive pleadings
The parties may stipulate without leave of court to one 15-day extension beyond the 30-day time period prescribed for the response after service of the initial complaint.
(e) Modification of timing; application for order extending time
The court, on its own motion or on the application of a party, may extend or otherwise modify the times provided in (b)-(d). An application for a court order extending the time to serve a pleading must be filed before the time for service has elapsed. The application must be accompanied by a declaration showing why service has not been completed, documenting the efforts that have been made to complete service, and specifying the date by which service is proposed to be completed.
(f) Failure to serve
If a party fails to serve and file pleadings as required under this rule, and has not obtained an order extending time to serve its pleadings, the court may issue an order to show cause why sanctions shall not be imposed.
(g) Request for entry of default
If a responsive pleading is not served within the time limits specified in this rule and no extension of time has been granted, the plaintiff must file a request for entry of default within 10 days after the time for service has elapsed. The court may issue an order to show cause why sanctions should not be imposed if the plaintiff fails to timely file the request for the entry of default.
(h) Default judgment
When a default is entered, the party who requested the entry of default must obtain a default judgment against the defaulting party within 45 days after the default was entered, unless the court has granted an extension of time. The court may issue an order to show cause why sanctions should not be imposed if that party fails to obtain entry of judgment against a defaulting party or to request an extension of time to apply for a default judgment within that time.
(i) Order to show cause
Responsive papers to an order to show cause issued under this rule must be filed and served at least 5 calendar days before the hearing.
Notes and commentary — not rule text
History
(Subd (a) amended effective July 1, 2007; previously amended effective January 1, 2007.)
(Subd (e) amended effective January 1, 2007.)
(Subd (f) amended effective January 1, 2007.)
(Subd (g) amended effective January 1, 2007.)
(Subd (h) amended effective January 1, 2007.)
(Subd (i) amended effective January 1, 2007.)
Rule 3.110 amended effective July 1, 2007; adopted as rule 201.7 effective July 1, 2002; previously amended and renumbered effective January 1, 2007.
Source of truth
- Edition
- As posted by the Judicial Council of California (read October 22, 2026)
- Official file
- https://courts.ca.gov/cms/rules/index/three/rule3_110
- Text hash
- sha256 5c27675a964872af132910ba2fcd8cba40c22b926a462923e971f7194ebbc192
- Composed by
- compose_crc.py 2026-10-22: the Judicial Council's rule pages read paragraph by paragraph; verify_crc.py's second reading of the Council's per-title PDFs finds every paragraph
BenchPath cards that rely on this text
- Alpine County Superior Court Local Rules (effective July 1, 2024) — Chapter 5: Civil Case Rules
- Lassen County Superior Court Local Rules of Court (effective July 1, 2026) — Rule 7: Civil Litigation Delay Reduction
- Los Angeles County Superior Court — Compton Courthouse, Department P (Judge Ryan D. White): Courtroom Information
- Los Angeles County Superior Court — Fourth Amended Standing Order — Limited Jurisdiction Cases Calendared in Departments 25 and 26 (Non-Collection and Non-UD Cases) (2026-SJ-007-00, May 21, 2026)
- Los Angeles County Superior Court — Pomona Courthouse South, Department A (Judge Bryant Y. Yang): Courtroom Information
- Los Angeles County Superior Court — Pomona Courthouse South, Department H (Judge Allison L. Westfahl Kong): Courtroom Information (DATED: January 9, 2026)
- Los Angeles County Superior Court — Pomona Courthouse South, Department O (Judge Christian R. Gullon): Courtroom Information
- Los Angeles County Superior Court — Stanley Mosk Courthouse, Department 408 (Judge Peter A. Hernandez): Courtroom Information (DATED: August 28, 2024)
- Los Angeles County Superior Court — Stanley Mosk Courthouse, Department 413 (Judge William E. Weinberger): Courtroom Information
- Orange County Superior Court — Department C11 (Hon. Jonathan S. Fish): General Policies and Procedures (rev. August 21, 2025)
- Orange County Superior Court — Department C33 (Hon. Sandy N. Leal): General Policies and Procedures
- Orange County Superior Court — Department N14 (Hon. Julianne Sartain Bancroft): Policies and Procedures (rev. 1.0, April 3, 2026)
- Orange County Superior Court — Department W15 (Hon. Richard Y. Lee): Policies and Procedures (rev. May 19, 2026)
- Plumas Superior Court Local Rules of Court (effective July 1, 2026) — Rule 10: Civil Litigation Delay Reduction
- Riverside County Superior Court — Guidelines for Complex Litigation in Riverside Superior Court (revised 6-12-17)
- Service of the Complaint Within 60 Days; Default Deadlines — Cal. Rules of Court, rule 3.110
- Service of the Complaint Within 60 Days; Default Deadlines — Cal. Rules of Court, rule 3.110
- Stanislaus County Superior Court Local Rules (effective July 1, 2026) — Rule 7: Family Law (Rules 7.00 to 7.07)
- Ventura County Superior Court — Courtroom 20 - Rules & Procedures (effective July 1, 2026)
This rule cites
Provisions in this library that the text above cites, as it prints each citation. A range cited as “ss. 61.13-61.16” links its first and last provisions.
California Rules of Court
Cited by 2 provisions
Provisions in this library whose text cites Cal. Rules of Court, rule 3.110. Each shows the citation as that text prints it.
Procedural information only. Not legal advice and not a substitute for the advice of an attorney. Confirm the current text with the official publisher before relying on it.