How court deadlines are counted in Spain (business days and August)

Key rules

• Working days: Only working days count for court deadlines, so Saturdays, Sundays, holidays and, in most civil matters, August are not counted.
• Start day: Day one is the day after you are served, never the day you receive the notice.
• Last day: Electronic filing on the last day is possible until 23:59.
• Extensions: Legal civil deadlines generally cannot be extended, so act early and do not count on extra time.

Which days count

Only working days (días hábiles) count. Saturdays, Sundays and national, regional and local holidays do not. The local holiday depends on where the court is, so check the calendar for that town.

Court business happens on working days and in working hours. You can send documents through the electronic system at any hour, including on non-working days. A document sent on a non-working day is treated as filed on the next working day.

What about August?

In civil cases, August does not count. If your deadline is running when August starts, it pauses and picks up again in September.

There are exceptions. Urgent actions and some matters the law sets out do count in August. These include some family-law actions and urgent protective measures. Check whether your action qualifies as urgent before you assume you have the extra time.

In criminal cases, August counts during the investigation stage (instrucción).

When does the clock start?

The day you receive the notice is not counted. Day one is the next day. This applies whether the document is a notification, a summons to appear, a formal call to respond to a claim, or a demand to do something.

• Several people served: each person's time runs from their own notification, unless the law says otherwise.
• Electronic notices: the count starts the day after you open the notice. If you never open it, it starts the day after it is treated as delivered.

Deadlines in days, months or years

A deadline in days counts working days only, as above. A deadline in months or years runs from date to date.

Can you extend a deadline?

Deadlines set by law in civil cases generally cannot be extended. A court can make an adjustment only if you show that something outside your control stopped you, or that you had a just cause. Ask the court straight away and include proof.

Deadlines set by the judge themselves can be extended if you ask.

Some deadlines are strict and lapse completely if missed. Ask a lawyer (abogado) or procurador if you are unsure which kind you have.

The last day and the day after

On the last day you can file electronically until 23:59. If you miss that, you can still file until 15:00 on the next working day.

Other jurisdictions, such as criminal, labour or administrative cases, can have different rules. Ask your lawyer which apply to you.

Use the counter below to check your date, and the timeline for the order of steps.

Timeline and deadlines

• Notification, summons or demand reaches you: Day zero: this day is not counted

• Start counting working days: From the day after notification, skipping Saturdays, Sundays and national, regional and local holidays

• Skip August in civil matters: Throughout August, unless the action is urgent or the law says otherwise

• Count months or years: From date to date, starting the day after notification

• File electronically: Until 23:59 on the last working day

• Use the next-day filing window if needed: Until 15:00 on the next working day after the deadline expires, where electronic submission is not possible or the deadline has expired

• Ask for an adjustment if something outside your control stopped you: As soon as the cause ends, showing force majeure or just cause

Court deadline counter for business days, August and holidays

Work it out

What you enter

• Length of your deadline, in working days (days): The notice or court document that was served on you.
• Saturdays and Sundays inside the period (days): Count them on a calendar, starting the day after you were notified.
• National, regional and local holidays on weekdays inside the period (days): The official holiday calendar for the town where the court is, not where you live.
• Weekdays in August inside the period (days): Count them on a calendar. Use 0 if your matter is urgent or outside civil proceedings.

Figures used

• Days skipped before counting starts (the day of notification itself is not counted): 1 day (as of 2025)

Worked example (with Length of your deadline, in working days 20 days, Saturdays and Sundays inside the period 8 days, National, regional and local holidays on weekdays inside the period 1 days, Weekdays in August inside the period 0 days)

When the sum misleads

• For an electronic notice, start from the day after you opened it, or after it was deemed delivered if you never opened it.
• If there are several recipients, each one counts from their own notification.
• Deadlines in months or years run from date to date, so this sum does not apply to them.
• Weekends or holidays that fall inside the period push the last day later, so recount after adding each one.
• If your last day falls on a non-working day, treat the next working day as the limit only after checking with your lawyer. The safest choice is to file earlier.
• Electronic filing is possible any day, but a filing on a non-working day counts as made on the next working day.

Frequently asked questions

Can I file a court document after the deadline expires?

Yes, a document can be filed until 15:00 on the next working day after the deadline expires, where electronic submission is not possible or the deadline has run out. Do not rely on this as a plan. Aim to file on or before the last day.

Can I get a court deadline extended?

Deadlines set by law in civil cases generally cannot be extended. A court may adjust them only if you show force majeure or just cause.

Until what time can I file on the last day?

Filing through the electronic system is possible until 23:59 on the last day. Filings made on a non-working day are treated as filed on the next working day.

Does August ever count in a court case?

Yes, August counts for urgent actions and certain matters set by law, such as some family law actions and urgent protective measures. In criminal investigations it also counts for the investigation stage. Otherwise August is not counted in civil matters.