(a) Computation. In computing any period of time prescribed or allowed by these rules, by order of court, or by any applicable statute, the day of the act, event, or default after which the designated period of time begins to run is not to be included. The last day of the period so computed is to be included, unless it is a Saturday, Sunday or a State or Federal holiday, in which event the period runs until the end of the next day which is neither a Saturday, Sunday nor such holiday. When the period of time prescribed or allowed is less than seven days, intermediate Saturdays, Sundays and holidays shall be excluded in the computation. A half holiday shall be considered as other days and not as a holiday.
Rule 6.Time
Group II: Commencement of Action: Service of Process, Pleadings, Motions and Orders · Not amended since adoption on record · Last verified July 13, 2026
In one sentenceRule 6 sets the method for counting deadlines under South Carolina's civil rules, describes when courts may enlarge those deadlines, and adds extra response time when a party is served by mail or through a statutory agent.
Full Text of Rule 6
(b) Enlargement. When by these rules or by notice given thereunder or by order of court an act is required or allowed to be done at or within a specified time, the time may be extended by written agreement of counsel for an additional period not exceeding the original time provided in these rules, or the court for cause shown may at any time in its discretion (1) with or without written motion or notice order the period enlarged if request therefor is made before the expiration of the period as originally prescribed or extended or (2) upon motion made after the expiration of the specified period, for good cause shown, permit the act to be done. The time for taking any action under rules 50(b), 52(b), 59, and 60(b) may not be extended except to the extent and under the conditions stated in them. The time for filing notice of intent to appeal is jurisdictional and may not be extended by consent or order.
(c) Unaffected by Expiration of Term. The period of time provided for the doing of any act or the taking of any proceeding is not affected or limited by the continued existence or expiration of a term of court. The continued existence or expiration of a term of court in no way affects the power of a court to do any act or take any proceeding in any civil action which has been pending before it.
(d) For Motions--Affidavits. A written motion other than one which may be heard ex parte, and notice of the hearing thereof, shall be served not later than ten days before the time specified for the hearing, unless a different period is fixed by these rules or by an order of the court. Such an order may for cause shown be made on ex parte application. When a motion is to be supported by affidavit, the affidavit shall be served with the motion; and, except as otherwise provided in Rule 59(c), additional or opposing affidavits may be served not later than two days before the hearing, unless the court permits them to be served at some other time. The moving party may serve reply affidavits at any time before the hearing commences. In all cases where a motion shall be granted on payment of costs or on the performance of any condition, or where an order shall require such payment or performance, the party whose duty it shall be to comply therewith shall have 20 days for that purpose, unless otherwise directed in the order.
(e) Additional Time After Service by Mail or Upon Statutory Agent. Whenever a party has the right or is required to do some act or take some proceedings within a prescribed period after the service of a notice or other paper upon him and the notice or paper is served upon him by mail or upon a person designated by statute to accept service, five days shall be added to the prescribed period.
Notes
Note: This Rule 6(a) replaces and considerably clarifies Code § 15-1-20; particularly as to computing time when there are consecutive holidays.
Note: This Rule 6(b) is the same as the Federal Rule, which is in turn a more concise statement of Code §§ 15- 13-90 and 15-27-120 and Circuit Rule 62, except that the Rule continues the present State practice of allowing one limited extension of time by agreement of counsel.
Note to 1986 Amendment: This amendment authorizes the court to permit an act to be done after the expiration of time upon a showing of good cause. This is the standard applied by courts in practice and is found in Rule 55(c) for relief from entry of default. The change distinguishes the test under Rule 6(b) which is applicable when filings are untimely, from that used when a party has obtained a judgment. Post-judgment relief under Rule 60(b) remains governed by the stricter standard of excusable neglect which has a precise meaning under state precedents. See also Rule 55(c).
Note: This Rule 6(c) was deleted from the Federal Rule in 1966, but was retained here as a much-needed clarification of State practice. The confusion as to the powers of the court with the modern advent of many "special terms" is eliminated. Time limits on such matters are now stated in the applicable rule; i.e., Rule 59 as to time for motions for new trial.
Note: This Rule 6(d) is the same as the Federal Rule, except that the Rule has enlarged notice time from 5 to 10 days. The last sentence is added to preserve Circuit Rule 62.
Note: This Rule 6(e) is the same as the Federal Rule except that the additional time to take an act after service is by mail is increased from 3 to 5 days. This replaces the very unclear meaning of Code § 15-9-950.
Plain-English Summary
Rule 6(a) supplies the counting method that underlies every other deadline in the rules: skip the day of the triggering act, count the last day of the period, and roll forward to the next non-weekend, non-holiday day if that last day lands on a Saturday, Sunday, or holiday. Short deadlines get extra protection — when a prescribed period runs less than seven days, weekends and holidays are excluded from the count entirely rather than just from the endpoint.
Rule 6(b) governs enlargement. Lawyers can agree in writing to one extension, capped at the length of the original period, without asking a judge. Courts can go further: granting more time for good cause if asked before the deadline passes, or, even after a deadline has already slipped, permitting the late act for good cause shown. That good-cause standard is deliberately more forgiving than the excusable-neglect standard that governs relief from a judgment already entered — Rule 6(b) is about missed deadlines during a case, not undoing a result after it's final. Some deadlines resist all of this: the time limits tied to Rules 50(b), 52(b), 59, and 60(b) can be extended only as those rules themselves allow, and the deadline for a notice of intent to appeal is jurisdictional, meaning no agreement or court order can stretch it.
The rest of the rule fills in supporting detail. Rule 6(c) confirms that deadlines run without regard to when a court term begins or ends. Rule 6(d) requires ten days' notice before a motion hearing (unless another rule or order sets a different period), lets opposing affidavits come in as late as two days before the hearing, and gives a party twenty days to satisfy any payment or condition a court order imposes. Rule 6(e) adds five extra days to act after service by mail or on a statutorily designated agent, recognizing that mailed notice doesn't reach its recipient the instant it's sent.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you count days under South Carolina's civil rules?
Skip the day of the triggering event, then count forward, including the last day of the period unless it falls on a weekend or holiday, in which case the deadline rolls to the next day that isn't.
What if a deadline falls on a weekend or a holiday?
It moves to the next day that isn't a Saturday, Sunday, or state or federal holiday.
Can opposing counsel just agree between themselves to extend a deadline?
Yes, for one extension, in writing, capped at the length of the original period. Anything more requires a court order.
What's the difference between "good cause" and "excusable neglect" for a late filing?
Good cause is the more forgiving standard courts apply under Rule 6(b) to excuse a missed deadline during a case. Excusable neglect is the stricter standard that governs relief from a judgment already entered, under Rule 60(b).
Can the deadline to file a notice of intent to appeal be extended?
No. Rule 6(b) makes that deadline jurisdictional, meaning neither an agreement between the parties nor a court order can extend it.
Do you get extra time to respond if you were served by mail?
Yes, five additional days beyond the period that would otherwise apply, under Rule 6(e).
How much notice is required before a motion hearing?
Ten days generally, under Rule 6(d), unless another rule or a court order sets a different period; opposing affidavits may still come in up to two days before the hearing.
Source & verification. Rule text, official Notes, and amendment
history are reproduced verbatim from the South Carolina Rules of Civil Procedure,
adopted by the Supreme Court of South Carolina. Last verified July 13, 2026. ·
Official source
Also known as: how to count deadlines in south carolina civil casesextending a filing deadline SCRCPgood cause versus excusable neglect south carolinarule 6 computation of timeextra days for service by mail south carolina