Lotus Appellate Law
Utah Rules of Business and Chancery Court Procedure: Filing Deadlines & Timeline
Litigation in Utah’s Business and Chancery Court runs on a tightly sequenced calendar — and the consequences of missing any step compound quickly. Plaintiff initial disclosures are due 14 days after the first answer; defendants have 28. The initial pretrial conference must be held within 28 days of all parties appearing. Fact discovery closes 210 days after the first defendant’s disclosure is due. Expert reports follow a three-step sequence of 28, 56, and 28-day windows. Pretrial disclosures are due 28 days before trial; counter-designations and objections are due 14 days before — and anything not timely listed is waived. A TRO expires in 14 days unless extended, and a scheduling conference must follow within 3 business days of its entry.
This filing deadline timeline maps every procedural requirement across all phases of a Business and Chancery Court action — organized by phase and rule number.
Utah Rules of Business and Chancery Court Procedure
Filing Deadlines
Fixed deadline — specific day count required
No fixed deadline — rule applies but timing is discretionary or event-triggered
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Filter by rule number
General Provisions
No deadline
Scope — these rules govern all business and chancery court actions; URCP applies where no specific URBCP rule existsFramework
These rules govern all actions in the Utah Business and Chancery Court, whether at law or in equity. The Utah Rules of Civil Procedure (URCP) apply except where: (1) there is a rule of the same number in the URBCP; or (2) the URBCP excludes a specific URCP rule as listed in Appendix A. These rules are known as the Utah Rules of Business and Chancery Procedure and may be abbreviated U.R.B.C.P. Decisions of this court (reported or unreported) may be cited as persuasive authority; a citing party must provide a copy to the other parties and the court.
No deadline
Title — Utah Rules of Business and Chancery ProcedureFramework
These rules are formally titled the Utah Rules of Business and Chancery Procedure. No timing requirement — definitional and citation rule only.
Pleadings
No deadline
General rules of pleadingsProcedural
Pleadings in the business and chancery court are governed by this rule. A pleading that states a claim for relief must contain a short and plain statement of the grounds for the court’s jurisdiction, a short and plain statement of the claim showing the pleader is entitled to relief, and a demand for the relief sought. No fixed deadline — timing of pleadings is governed by applicable URCP rules and court scheduling orders.
No deadline
Form of pleadings and other papersProcedural
All pleadings and papers must comply with the form requirements of this rule, including caption requirements, numbered paragraphs, and signature requirements. No fixed deadline — form requirements apply to all documents filed throughout the action.
No deadline
Counterclaim and crossclaimProcedural
A pleading must state as a compulsory counterclaim any claim that the pleader has against an opposing party if the claim arises from the same transaction or occurrence as the opposing party’s claim and does not require adding a party over whom the court cannot acquire jurisdiction. Permissive counterclaims and crossclaims may also be pleaded. Timing governed by the applicable URCP answer and response deadlines.
Parties & Joinder
No deadline
Third-party practiceProcedural
A defending party may, as a third-party plaintiff, cause a summons and complaint to be served upon a person not a party to the action who is or may be liable to the defending party for all or part of the plaintiff’s claim. Timing of third-party practice is governed by court scheduling orders and applicable URCP deadlines.
No deadline
Joinder of claims and remediesProcedural
A party asserting a claim, counterclaim, crossclaim, or third-party claim may join as many claims as it has against an opposing party. No fixed deadline — joinder of claims is governed by the applicable pleading deadlines and court scheduling orders.
No deadline
Joinder of persons needed for just adjudicationProcedural
A person who is subject to service of process and whose joinder will not deprive the court of jurisdiction must be joined if: complete relief cannot be afforded among existing parties without the person; or the person’s absence may leave an existing party subject to inconsistent obligations or substantially impair the person’s interest. Timing governed by court scheduling orders and applicable URCP joinder deadlines.
No deadline
Permissive joinder of partiesProcedural
Persons may be joined in one action as plaintiffs or defendants if: any right to relief asserted by or against them arises from the same transaction or occurrence or series of transactions or occurrences; and any question of law or fact common to all these persons will arise in the action. No fixed deadline — permissive joinder is governed by court scheduling orders.
No deadline
InterpleaderProcedural
Persons having claims against the plaintiff may be joined as defendants and required to interplead when their claims are such that the plaintiff is or may be exposed to double or multiple liability. No fixed deadline — interpleader practice is governed by the applicable URCP deadlines and court orders.
Timely motion
Intervention — motion must be timelyTimeliness Required
Anyone may intervene as of right when the applicant claims an interest in the property or transaction that is the subject of the action and disposing of the action without the applicant may impair that interest, unless the applicant’s interest is adequately represented by existing parties. Permissive intervention is also available. In both cases, the motion must be timely — no fixed day count, but delay in seeking intervention is a primary factor in whether the motion will be granted.
Pretrial Conferences
28 days after all parties appear
Initial pretrial conference — held no later than 28 days after all parties have appeared
The court will direct attorneys and, when appropriate, the parties to appear for an initial pretrial conference held no later than 28 days after all parties have appeared. The court may conduct additional pretrial conferences in its discretion or upon motion. Conference purposes include: expediting disposition; establishing case management controls; facilitating ADR; setting discovery deadlines; and establishing the trial date and pretrial conference schedule.
14 days before initial pretrial conference
Parties’ planning conference — must be held no later than 14 days before the initial pretrial conference
No later than 14 days before the initial pretrial conference, the parties must confer to develop a proposed discovery plan. All attorneys of record and unrepresented parties who have appeared are jointly responsible for arranging the conference and attempting in good faith to agree on the plan. The conference must address: discovery subjects and timing; ESI issues; privilege and work product issues; discovery limitation changes; and other court requests.
7 days after planning conference
Written discovery plan report — submitted to court within 7 days after parties’ planning conference
Within 7 days after the parties’ planning conference, the parties must jointly submit to the court a written report outlining the proposed discovery plan. The court may order the parties or attorneys to attend the conference in person rather than by telephone or other remote means.
At close of discovery
Trial setting certification — plaintiff must certify readiness at close of all discoveryRequired
Unless an order sets the trial date, any party may and the plaintiff must, at the close of all discovery, certify to the court that: discovery is complete; any required mediation or ADR has been completed or excused; and the case is ready for trial. The court will then schedule trial as soon as mutually convenient and will notify parties of the trial date and any final pretrial conference.
As close to trial as reasonable
Final pretrial conference — held as close to trial as reasonableDiscretionary
The court may, in its discretion or upon motion, direct attorneys and parties to appear at a final pretrial conference to discuss settlement and trial management. The conference will be held as close to the time of trial as reasonable. No fixed day count — timing is at the court’s discretion based on the circumstances of each case.
Disclosure & Discovery
14 days after first answer (plaintiff)
Initial disclosures — plaintiff must serve within 14 days after first answer is filed
A plaintiff must serve initial disclosures on all other parties within 14 days after the filing of the first answer to that plaintiff’s complaint. Initial disclosures must include without waiting for a discovery request: the name and contact information of each individual likely to have discoverable information supporting the party’s claims or defenses; a copy of all documents, ESI, and tangible things the party may offer in its case-in-chief; a computation of damages claimed with supporting documents; indemnification agreements; and all documents to which the party refers in its pleadings.
28 days after first answer (defendant)
Initial disclosures — defendant must serve within 28 days after filing its first answer
A defendant must serve initial disclosures on all other parties within 28 days after filing that defendant’s first answer to the complaint. Same scope of disclosure required as for plaintiffs — all documents and information supporting claims or defenses without waiting for a discovery request. A party may not seek discovery from any source before that party’s initial disclosure obligations are satisfied.
210 days after first defendant’s first disclosure is due
Fact discovery cutoff — must be completed no later than 210 days after the first defendant’s first disclosure is due
Fact discovery must be completed no later than 210 days after the first defendant’s initial disclosure is due. Presumptive fact discovery limits per side are: 20 interrogatories; 25 requests for production; 30 requests for admission; and 10 depositions. These limits may be modified by the court on a party’s motion. To obtain discovery beyond these limits, a party must file a request for extraordinary discovery under URCP Rule 37(a) before the close of fact discovery.
28 days after close of fact discovery (burden of proof party)
Expert reports — party bearing burden of proof must serve no later than 28 days after close of fact discovery
Absent a court order, the party who bears the burden of proof on the issue for which expert testimony is offered must serve the required expert report or summary no later than 28 days after the close of fact discovery. Expert reports must include: all opinions and the basis for them; facts or data considered; exhibits; qualifications; prior testimony; and compensation. Non-retained experts require only a written summary of expected testimony.
56 days after opposing expert report
Responsive expert reports — non-burden party must serve within 56 days after opposing expert report
The party who does not bear the burden of proof on the issue must serve its expert report or summary no later than 56 days after service of the burden-party’s written expert report or summary. Expert depositions are limited to 6 hours for report-submitting experts; the deposing party must pay the expert’s reasonable hourly fee for attendance and up to 4 hours of preparation.
28 days after opposing expert report (rebuttal)
Rebuttal expert reports — must be served within 28 days after the opposing expert report
If the burden-of-proof party wants to designate rebuttal expert witnesses, it must serve rebuttal expert reports no later than 28 days after service of the opposing expert report or summary. A court may preclude an expert disclosed only as a rebuttal expert from testifying in the case in chief.
28 days after last expert report
Expert discovery cutoff — must be completed within 28 days after the last expert report is served
Expert discovery — including all expert depositions — must be completed no later than 28 days after the last expert report or summary is served. This is the hard outer boundary for all expert-related discovery in the case.
28 days before trial
Pretrial disclosures — witness lists, deposition designations, and exhibit lists must be served 28 days before trial
No later than 28 days before trial, each party must serve on the other parties: the name and contact information of each trial witness (separately identifying “will call” vs. “may call”); the name of witnesses whose testimony will be presented by deposition transcript; deposition designations; and a copy of each trial exhibit (separately identifying “will offer” vs. “may offer”). Witness and deposition designation disclosures must also be filed with the court on the date served.
14 days before trial
Counter-designations and pretrial objections — must be served no later than 14 days before trialWaiver Risk
No later than 14 days before trial, a party must serve any counter-designations of deposition testimony and any objections and grounds to the use of any deposition, witness, or exhibit if the grounds for the objection are apparent before trial. Other than objections under URE Rules 402 and 403, any objections not timely listed are waived unless excused by the court for good cause.
Trial
No deadline
Jury trial of right — preserved in the business and chancery courtProcedural
The right to a jury trial as declared by the Utah Constitution or as provided by a Utah statute is preserved. Timing of jury demand governed by applicable URCP Rule 38 — a jury demand must be made no later than 14 days after service of the last pleading directed to the issue. Failure to timely demand a jury trial constitutes a waiver of that right.
No deadline
Consolidation and separate trials — ordered by court in its discretionCourt Discretion
When actions involving a common question of law or fact are pending before the court, it may order a joint hearing or trial or consolidation, or make such other orders to avoid unnecessary cost or delay. The court may also order a separate trial of any claim or issue to promote convenience or avoid prejudice. No fixed deadline — the court acts on its own motion or on motion of a party.
Injunctions & Emergency Relief
14 days max (TRO duration)
Temporary restraining order — expires within 14 days of entry unless extended for good causeHard Deadline
Every temporary restraining order expires by its own terms within the time fixed by the court, not to exceed 14 days from entry, unless extended for good cause for a like period, or unless the restrained party consents to a longer period. The order must be endorsed with the date and hour of issuance, filed immediately with the clerk, and entered of record. The order must define the injury and state why it is irreparable.
3 business days after TRO granted
Scheduling conference — held within 3 business days of TRO being granted
If a TRO is granted, the court will hold a scheduling conference within 3 business days of the order being granted. Before the conference, counsel for the parties must meet and confer regarding: any necessary modification to the order; an expedited briefing schedule for the preliminary injunction motion; deadlines for disclosing witnesses and exhibits for the preliminary injunction hearing; and the expected length of the preliminary injunction hearing.
48-hours notice
Motion to dissolve or modify ex parte TRO — adverse party entitled to 48 hours notice
On 48-hours’ notice to the party who obtained the TRO without notice (or on such shorter notice as the court orders), the adverse party may appear and move for dissolution or modification of the order. The court will hear and determine the motion as expeditiously as the ends of justice require.
No deadline
Preliminary injunction — notice to adverse party required; hearing scheduled at earliest possible timeProcedural
The court will not issue a preliminary injunction without notice to the adverse party. Unless the parties agree otherwise, the court will schedule the preliminary injunction hearing at the earliest possible time, giving the matter precedence over all other matters except older matters of the same character. The applicant bears the burden at the hearing to show entitlement to a preliminary injunction; failure to meet that burden results in dissolution of any TRO. Grounds require showing: substantial likelihood of success on the merits; irreparable harm; balance of harms favoring applicant; and no adverse public interest.
No deadline
Extraordinary relief — Rule 65B proceedings governed by specific statutory and rule requirementsProcedural
Rule 65B governs extraordinary writs and other extraordinary relief in the business and chancery court. Note: Initial disclosures under Rule 26(a)(1) do not apply in Rule 65B actions. Timing for Rule 65B proceedings is governed by the specific requirements of each type of extraordinary relief sought and applicable statutory deadlines.
Court Administration
No deadline
Disability or disqualification of a judge — substitution governed by applicable rulesProcedural
If a judge becomes unable to proceed with a trial or hearing due to disability, disqualification, or other reason, a substitute judge may be designated. Timing and process governed by applicable Utah court administration rules. No fixed deadline in URBCP itself.
No deadline
Court always open; clerk’s office hours; ministerial ordersAdministrative
The court is deemed always open for filing any pleading or other proper paper. All trials will be conducted in open court in a regular courtroom where convenient. The clerk’s office is open during business hours on all days except Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays. Ministerial orders (issuing process, entering defaults, etc.) are grantable by the clerk but may be suspended, altered, or rescinded by the court on cause shown. The court will not conduct a non-ex-parte hearing outside the county of the matter’s pendency without party consent.
Representation
No deadline
Licensed paralegal practitioners — treated as attorneys for purposes of these rules within scope of their licenseProcedural
To the extent consistent with their limited license, licensed paralegal practitioners (LPPs) are treated the same as attorneys under these rules. LPPs may sign or file documents where a court-approved form is available and the practice is consistent with the scope of their license. LPPs are permitted to prepare and serve initial, supplemental, and pretrial disclosures under Rule 26. Where these rules refer to attorney fees, they also include LPP fees. An LPP who has entered a general appearance is obligated to inform the client of all papers filed, regardless of whether the paper falls within the scope of representation.
Legal Disclaimer: The filing deadlines and procedural rules compiled on this page are provided for general informational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice. While Lotus Appellate Law strives to keep this reference current, we cannot guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of any information presented here. Court rules are amended periodically and without notice. Always verify deadlines and procedural requirements directly against the official Utah Rules of Appellate Procedure at utcourts.gov before relying on any information on this page. Missing a filing deadline can have serious and irreversible consequences. If you have questions about a specific matter, consult a licensed Utah attorney.