Module 4

The clock: limitation periods, notice deadlines, response and appeal deadlines, how time is counted, and what to do when you are not sure how long you have

A right with no time left is a right you cannot use. The law sets deadlines for almost everything: for bringing a claim, for telling a government that you have one, for answering a lawsuit, for appealing a decision and for using a remedy in a contract. A claim that was completely valid can be lost because the clock ran out. At the same time, nobody can give you a safe deadline without knowing your state, your kind of claim and your facts. This module teaches you what kinds of clocks exist, how they are counted, when they start and can pause and, most importantly, what to do when you are not sure. It states no deadlines as numbers, because they differ by state and change, and it is not legal advice.

General education about the legal system of the United States, using invented people and places. It states principles in simplified form and is not legal advice. The law differs by state and changes, and every case turns on its facts. If your matter is urgent, involves a large sum, your children, your home, your immigration status or your liberty, speak to a lawyer.