Legal Definitions - appearance date

Appearance date refers to the day on which a defendant must appear in court or file a responsive pleading in a lawsuit. It is a specific time period that is distinguished from other periods.

For example, the answer day is the last day for a defendant to file and serve a responsive pleading in a lawsuit. Under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, a defendant generally must serve an answer within 20 days after being served with the summons and complaint, or within 60 days after the request for waiver was sent if a defendant timely waives service at the plaintiff's request.

Another example is the return day, which is a day on which a defendant must appear in court (as for an arraignment), file an answer, or return a proof of service or writ of execution to court.

These examples illustrate how appearance date is a specific time period that is important in legal proceedings and must be adhered to by defendants.