Legal Deadlines in Business Days

The general rule: dies a quo and dies ad quem

In both French and English law, legal deadlines follow a standard counting rule. The dies a quo (the starting day — the event that triggers the deadline) is not counted. The count begins the following day. The dies ad quem (the last day) is included in full, meaning an act performed at any point during the last day is valid.

If the last day falls on a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday, the deadline is automatically extended to the next working day. In French law this is codified in article 642 of the Code de procédure civile. English Civil Procedure Rules (CPR Rule 2.8) contain an equivalent provision.

French administrative deadlines

Many French administrative procedures specify response times in working days (jours ouvrés). Common examples include:

• Recours gracieux: The administration has 2 months (calendar) to respond. Silence equals rejection.
• Délai de rétractation (VEFA): 10 calendar days for the purchaser of an off-plan property.
• Opposition à cession de fonds de commerce: Creditors have 10 jours francs (full days) to oppose.
• Réponse à une mise en demeure: Typically 8 jours, which French courts interpret as calendar days unless otherwise specified.

Employment tribunal deadlines (France)

Claims before the Conseil de prud'hommes are subject to prescription periods: 2 years for claims arising from employment contract execution, 3 years for salary claims. These prescription periods use calendar time. However, procedural deadlines within a case — such as the time to challenge a jugement before the Cour d'appel — are expressed in calendar months (1 month from notification). The month runs from the notification date to the same-number day the following month, extended to the next working day if it falls on a weekend or holiday.

UK court deadlines (CPR)

Under the Civil Procedure Rules, time periods of 5 days or less exclude weekends and bank holidays. Periods longer than 5 days include all days. This creates an important distinction for short deadlines: a 3-day CPR deadline from a Wednesday gives until Monday, not Saturday. Use the Add Days mode with UK holiday calendar and the 5-day rule in mind.

Consumer rights cooling-off periods

EU and UK consumer law provides a 14-calendar-day cooling-off period for distance contracts (online and phone purchases). This uses calendar days, not working days. However, the period does not start until the buyer receives the goods, and it is extended if the seller fails to provide the required information about the right of withdrawal.

Best practice for legal deadline tracking

• Always confirm whether the deadline is in calendar days, working days, or jours francs.
• Identify the triggering event precisely (date of notification, date of receipt, date of judgment).
• Account for the court calendar: French courts observe the judicial vacation periods (vacances judiciaires) during which some deadlines are suspended.
• Use the calculator's Custom Holidays option to add court closure dates.
• For any deadline with legal consequences, verify the calculation with a qualified legal professional.