Legal Definitions - return date

A return date refers to a specific deadline set by a court or legal authority for a party to take a particular action, such as appearing in court, filing a document, or responding to a legal request.

Here are some examples illustrating the concept of a return date:

• Example 1: Court Summons

  Imagine a person receives a summons for a small claims court case. The summons states, "You are hereby ordered to appear in court on October 26, 2024, at 9:00 AM." In this scenario, October 26, 2024, is the return date. It is the specific date by which the individual must appear before the court to respond to the claim against them.

• Example 2: Responding to a Lawsuit

  A business is served with a lawsuit, and the accompanying legal documents specify that they must file their formal response (an "answer") with the court within 30 days of being served. If they were served on September 1, 2024, their return date for filing the answer would be October 1, 2024. This is the deadline by which their legal team must submit the required paperwork to avoid a default judgment.

• Example 3: Subpoena for Documents

  During a legal discovery process, a lawyer issues a subpoena to a third-party company, demanding the production of certain financial records. The subpoena specifies, "All requested documents must be produced to counsel no later than November 15, 2024." Here, November 15, 2024, is the return date. It is the deadline by which the company must gather and provide the specified documents to the requesting attorney.