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Anchor date

The day a time window is counted from, which is not always the day the trouble started.

Accrual date · The day the clock started

For an unpaid invoice it is usually the day payment was due and missed. For damage it is the day the damage happened.

Sometimes a state sets the day for you. California, for instance, gives a landlord 21 days after move-out to return a deposit, so the window on a deposit claim is counted from that 21st day, not from move-out.

Related words

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Common questions

What does anchor date mean in small claims court?
The day a time window is counted from, which is not always the day the trouble started. For an unpaid invoice it is usually the day payment was due and missed. For damage it is the day the damage happened.
What does statute of limitations mean in small claims court?
The deadline for bringing a claim, counted in years from the day the clock started. Every kind of claim has its own window, and it is set by the state, not by the court. A written agreement usually gets a longer window than a spoken one.
What does evidence mean in small claims court?
The documents, photos, messages, and receipts that show what happened and what it cost. Evidence is anything that shows a fact: a signed agreement, an invoice, a bank record, a text thread, a photo with a date on it, a repair estimate.
What does claim mean in small claims court?
The form that starts the case: who you are, who owes you, how much, and why. The claim form is short on purpose. It asks for the amount, a plain description of what happened, and the dates. You sign it, hand it in, and pay the filing fee.

Verified on 2026-09-06, sources:

    FairSquare assembles documents and explains your court's rules. It is not a substitute for advice about your situation.