In computing any period of time prescribed or allowed by these rules, by order of court, or by applicable law, the day of the act, event, or default after which the designated period of time begins to run shall not be included. The last day of the period so computed shall be included, unless it is a Saturday, Sunday, or a legal holiday, in which event the period shall extend until the end of the next day that is not a Saturday, Sunday, or a legal holiday as specified in RSA ch. 288, as amended.
Rule 2.Computation of Time
Group I: General Principles · Last amended October 1, 2013 · Last verified July 14, 2026
In one sentenceRule 2 explains how to count any deadline set by the civil rules, a court order, or applicable law: skip the day of the triggering event, count every day after that, and push the last day forward if it lands on a weekend or legal holiday.
Full Text of Rule 2
Amendment History
Adopted May 22, 2013, eff. October 1, 2013.
Plain-English Summary
Deadlines drive civil litigation, so knowing how to count days matters as much as knowing what the deadline is. Rule 2 gives a single method that applies whether the time period comes from the civil rules themselves, a court order, or another statute. Start counting the day after the triggering event — a filing, a service, an order — not the day of the event itself.
The rule also protects filers from being caught out by the calendar. If the final day of a computed period falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, the deadline moves to the next day that is not one of those. New Hampshire's list of legal holidays comes from RSA chapter 288, so anyone computing a deadline near a holiday should check that statute rather than guess.
Because this method applies across the board — rules, court orders, and other applicable law — it is worth internalizing early. A miscounted deadline can mean a missed Answer, a late motion, or a lost right, and Rule 2 is the tool for getting the count right every time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I count the day I was served with a Complaint when calculating my deadline?
No. Rule 2 excludes the day of the act or event that starts the clock. You begin counting with the next day.
What happens if my deadline falls on a Sunday?
The deadline moves forward to the next day that is not a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday. You are not required to file early to beat the weekend.
Where do I find the list of legal holidays that can extend a deadline?
Rule 2 points to RSA chapter 288, as amended, for the list of legal holidays recognized for this purpose.
Does this counting method apply to deadlines set by a judge's order, not just the rules?
Yes. Rule 2 applies to any period prescribed or allowed by the civil rules, by a court order, or by applicable law, so the same counting method governs all three sources.
If a rule gives me 30 days to file an Answer, when does day one start?
Day one is the day after you were served, since the day of service itself is excluded from the count. From there you count forward, adjusting only the final day if it lands on a weekend or holiday.
Source & verification. Rule text, official Comments, and amendment
history are reproduced verbatim from the New Hampshire Superior Court Civil Rules, adopted
by the New Hampshire Supreme Court. Last verified July 14, 2026.
· Official source
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