California contract deadline calculator
'Days' are calendar days, and Acceptance is day 0. After Acceptance, the last day for performing any act, including Close of Escrow, can't be a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday and moves to the next day. The initial deposit is the exception: it's counted in business days. 'Days After' periods end at 11:59 p.m. Source
medium confidence · Holidays: Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays. ClosingCal uses federal holidays; California state holidays may also count (verify). · Last checked 2026-10-16
Calculate your deadlines
Worked example: California
C.A.R. California Residential Purchase Agreement (RPA). Effective Date Friday, October 16, 2026, Closing Friday, November 20, 2026. Calculated with the same rules as the calculator.
| Deadline | Date |
|---|---|
| Initial deposit into escrow | Wednesday, October 21, 2026 |
| Investigation contingency removal | Monday, November 2, 2026 |
| Appraisal contingency removal | Monday, November 2, 2026 |
| Loan contingency removal | Monday, November 2, 2026 |
| Title (preliminary report) contingency removal | Monday, November 2, 2026 |
| Close of Escrow uses undefined days as a placeholder because the form leaves it blank | Friday, November 20, 2026 |
What happens if a California deadline falls on a weekend or holiday?
Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays. ClosingCal uses federal holidays; California state holidays may also count (verify).
- Moves to the next business day: Initial deposit into escrow; Investigation contingency removal; Appraisal contingency removal; Loan contingency removal; Title (preliminary report) contingency removal; Close of Escrow.
Based on the C.A.R. California Residential Purchase Agreement (RPA). ClosingCal uses federal holidays. Check any state or local closures that apply to your deal.
Examples from California sources
If a contract is accepted on a Thursday, the buyer has 3 business days for the initial deposit: Friday is day 1, Monday day 2, Tuesday day 3. Source
California deadlines explained
C.A.R. California Residential Purchase Agreement (RPA)
Current RPA. Revision not confirmed (verify). · Form source
| Deadline | Default | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Initial deposit into escrow | By default it is 3 business days after the Effective Date (¶3D(1)). | Source (2026-10-16) |
| Investigation contingency removal | By default it is 17 calendar days after the Effective Date (¶3L / ¶12). | Source (2026-10-16) |
| Appraisal contingency removal | By default it is 17 calendar days after the Effective Date (¶3L). | Source (2026-10-16) |
| Loan contingency removalVerify | By default it is 17 calendar days after the Effective Date (¶3L). | Source (2026-10-16) |
| Title (preliminary report) contingency removalVerify | By default it is 17 calendar days after the Effective Date (¶3L / ¶13). | Source (2026-10-16) |
| Close of Escrow | It is the date written into the contract. | Source (2026-10-16) |
California deadline FAQ
Do weekends count in California real estate contract deadlines?
'Days' are calendar days, and Acceptance is day 0. After Acceptance, the last day for performing any act, including Close of Escrow, can't be a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday and moves to the next day. The initial deposit is the exception: it's counted in business days. 'Days After' periods end at 11:59 p.m.
What happens if a California contract deadline falls on a weekend or holiday?
On the C.A.R. California Residential Purchase Agreement (RPA), these move to the next business day: Initial deposit into escrow; Investigation contingency removal; Appraisal contingency removal; Loan contingency removal; Title (preliminary report) contingency removal; Close of Escrow.
Which holidays matter for California contract deadlines?
Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays. ClosingCal uses federal holidays; California state holidays may also count (verify).
Which California contract forms does ClosingCal cover?
C.A.R. California Residential Purchase Agreement (RPA) (Current RPA. Revision not confirmed (verify).).