Section 22 — How procedural time limits are computed
Statutory text (Thai original)
กำหนดระยะเวลาทั้งปวงไม่ว่าที่กฎหมายกำหนดไว้หรือที่ศาลเป็นผู้กำหนดก็ดี เพื่อให้ดำเนินการหรือมิให้ดำเนินกระบวนพิจารณาใด ๆ ก่อนสิ้นระยะเวลานั้น ให้ศาลคำนวณตามบทบัญญัติแห่งประมวลกฎหมายแพ่งและพาณิชย์ว่าด้วยระยะเวลา
English translation
All periods of time, whether fixed by law or fixed by the court, for the doing of, or for the refraining from doing, any proceeding before the expiry of that period, shall be computed by the court in accordance with the provisions of the Civil and Commercial Code on periods of time.
This English translation is provided for reference only and has not yet been firm-verified — always rely on the Thai original.
Firm annotation
Section 22 is a bridging provision in Chapter 3 that harmonizes the computation of procedural time limits with the general time rules of the Civil and Commercial Code. Rather than restating how to count days, months and years, it directs the court to apply the Civil and Commercial Code provisions on periods of time to every procedural deadline, whether statutory or judge-set, and whether the period requires an act to be done or bars an act before it expires. In practice this affects how the first and last days are counted and how a period ending on a holiday is treated. It underpins the many deadlines throughout the Code, such as those for filing pleadings, appeals and motions.
Why this matters in practice
This is why procedural deadlines in Thai litigation are counted the same way as ordinary legal time periods: the first day is generally not counted, and a period ending on a public holiday runs to the next working day. Miscounting a deadline can cost you an appeal or a filing, so calculate from the correct start date and confirm the end date against the Civil and Commercial Code rules. When a hard deadline is approaching, it is worth confirming the exact date with a lawyer; see the firm's guide on going to court in Thailand.
Frequently asked questions
How are court deadlines counted in Thailand?
Under Section 22, procedural deadlines are computed using the Civil and Commercial Code rules on periods of time, so the same counting method applies whether the deadline was set by law or by the court.
What if a deadline falls on a public holiday?
Because Section 22 applies the Civil and Commercial Code time rules, a period that ends on an official holiday generally runs to the next working day. Confirm the exact date, as a miscount can forfeit a right.