(a) Computation. — In computing any period of time prescribed or allowed by these rules, by order of court, or by any applicable statutes, the day of the act, event, or default from 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, a Sunday, or a legal holiday, or, when the act to be done is the filing of a paper, a day on which weather or other conditions have made the office of the clerk of the court inaccessible, in which event the period runs until the end of the next day which is not one of the aforementioned days. As used in this rule, “legal holiday” includes any day officially recognized as a legal holiday in this state by designation of the legislature, appointment as a holiday by the governor or the chief justice of the Wyoming Supreme Court, or any day designated as such by local officials.
Rule 6.Time
Group II: Commencement of Action; Service of Process: Pleadings, Motions, and Orders · Last amended February 2, 2017 · Last verified July 14, 2026
In one sentenceRule 6 explains how to count deadlines under the civil rules, when a court can extend time, the default schedule for serving motions, responses, and replies, and the extra three days allowed when a paper is served by mail.
Full Text of Rule 6
(b) Extending Time. —
(1) In General. — When by these rules or by a notice given thereunder or by order of court an act is required or allowed to be done at or within a specified time, the court, or a commissioner thereof, may for good cause and in its discretion:
(A) with or without motion or notice order the period enlarged if request therefor is made before the expiration of the period originally prescribed or as extended by a previous order; or
(B) upon motion made after the expiration of the specified period permit the act to be done where the failure to act was the result of excusable neglect;
(2) Exceptions. — A court may not extend the time for taking any action under Rules 50(b) and (c)(2), 52(b), 59(b), (d) and (e), and 60(b), except to the extent and under the conditions stated in them.
(3) By Clerk of Court. — A motion served before the expiration of the time limitations set forth by these rules for an extension of time of not more than 15 days within which to answer or move to dismiss the complaint, or answer, respond or object to discovery under Rules 33, 34, and 36, if accompanied by a statement setting forth:
(A) the specific reasons for the request,
(B) that the motion is timely filed,
(C) that the extension will not conflict with any scheduling or other order of the court, and
(D) that there has been no prior extension of time granted with respect to the matter in question may be granted once by the clerk of court, ex parte and routinely, subject to the right of the opposing party to move to set aside the order so extending time. Motions for further extensions of time with respect to matters extended by the clerk shall be presented to the court, or a commissioner thereof, for determination.
(c) Motions and motion practice. —
(1) In General. — Unless these rules or an order of the court establish time limitations other than those contained herein, all motions shall be served at least 14 days before the hearing on the motion, with the following exceptions:
(A) motions for enlargement of time;
(B) motions made during hearing or trial;
(C) motions which may be heard ex parte; and
(D) motions described in subdivisions (5) and (6) below, together with supporting affidavits, if any.
(2) Responses. — Except as otherwise provided in Rule 59(c), or unless the court by order permits service at some other time, a party affected by the motion may serve a response, together with affidavits, if any, at least three days prior to the hearing on the motion or within 20 days after service of the motion, whichever is earlier.
(3) Replies. — Unless the court by order permits service at some other time, the moving party may serve a reply, if any, at least one day prior to the hearing on the motion or within 15 days after service of the response, whichever is earlier. Unless the court otherwise orders, any party may serve supplemental memoranda or rebuttal affidavits at least one day prior to the hearing on the motion.
(4) Request for Hearing. — A request for hearing may be served by the moving party or any party affected by the motion within 20 days after service of the motion. The court may, in its discretion, determine such motions without a hearing. Any motion, under Rules 50(b) and (c)(2), 52(b), 59 and 60(b), not determined within 90 days after filing shall be deemed denied unless, within that period, the determination is continued by order of the court, which continuation may not exceed 60 days, at which time, if the motion has not been determined, it shall be deemed denied.
(5) Protective Orders and Motions to Compel. — A party moving for a protective order under Rule 26(c) or to compel discovery under Rule 37(a) may request an immediate hearing thereon. An immediate hearing may be held if the court finds that a delay in determining the motion will cause undue prejudice, expense or inconvenience.
(6) Motions in Limine. — A motion relating to the exclusion of evidence may be filed at any time. Absent a request for hearing by a moving party or any party affected by the motion, the court may, in its discretion, determine the motion without a hearing.
(d) Additional time after service by mail. — 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 the party, and the notice or paper is served upon the party by mail or by delivery to the clerk for service, three days shall be added to the prescribed period, provided however, this rule shall not apply to service of process by registered or certified mail under Rule 4(r).
Amendment History
Added February 2, 2017, effective March 1, the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. 2017.
Plain-English Summary
Rule 6 opens with the mechanics of counting time. When computing any deadline set by the rules, a court order, or a statute, the day of the triggering event itself is not counted, but the final day of the period is — unless that final day falls on a weekend, a legal holiday, or a day the clerk's office is inaccessible, in which case the deadline rolls to the next available day. The rule then addresses extensions: a court can enlarge a deadline before it expires for good cause, or after it expires if the delay was the result of excusable neglect, though a short list of post-trial motion deadlines (under Rules 50, 52, 59, and 60) cannot be extended beyond what those rules themselves allow. A clerk of court can also grant one short extension — up to 15 days — to answer, move to dismiss, or respond to certain discovery, without involving a judge, as long as specific conditions are met; that clerk-granted extension can still be challenged and set aside.
The rest of Rule 6 lays out the default timetable for motions. Absent a different deadline set by rule or court order, a motion must be served at least 14 days before its hearing, with exceptions for motions asking for more time, motions made during a hearing or trial, motions that may be heard ex parte, and the protective-order, compel-discovery, and motion-in-limine motions covered later in the rule. A response is generally due at least three days before the hearing or within 20 days of service of the motion, whichever comes first, and a reply follows the same kind of earlier-of timing. A party can request a hearing within 20 days of the motion, and certain post-trial motions are deemed denied if the court has not ruled within 90 days, unless that period is extended once for up to 60 more days. Finally, Rule 6(d) adds three extra days to a deadline whenever the triggering notice or paper was served by mail — though that extra time does not apply to service of process itself under Rule 4(r).
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I count a deadline like "within 14 days" of an event?
Skip the day of the triggering event itself, then count forward. If the final day lands on a weekend, legal holiday, or a day the clerk's office is inaccessible, the deadline rolls over to the next available day.
Can I get more time if I miss a deadline?
Possibly. Before a deadline expires, a court can extend it for good cause. After it expires, an extension generally requires showing the delay was the result of excusable neglect.
Are there deadlines a court can never extend?
Yes. Deadlines under Rules 50(b) and (c)(2), 52(b), 59(b), (d), and (e), and 60(b) can only be extended to the extent those specific rules allow.
Can the clerk of court grant me an extension without involving a judge?
For a short extension of up to 15 days to answer, move to dismiss, or respond to certain discovery, yes, if the request meets the conditions in Rule 6(b)(3) — though that clerk-granted extension can still be challenged and set aside.
If I was served with a motion by mail, when is my response due?
Add three days to whatever period would otherwise apply, since Rule 6(d) extends deadlines that run from service by mail — except this extra time does not apply to service of process by mail under Rule 4(r).
Source & verification. Rule text and amendment history are
reproduced verbatim from the Wyoming Rules of Civil Procedure, adopted by the
Supreme Court of Wyoming. Last verified July 14, 2026. ·
Official source
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