Before expiration, can a court enlarge the deadline for a response for good cause shown if requested?

• A. Court may enlarge if requested before expiration
• B. Court may enlarge only after expiration
• C. Parties may enlarge on their own without court
• D. Court may never enlarge

Answer: (A)

In North Carolina civil procedure, you can seek more time to respond to a complaint if you file a request before the deadline and show good cause. The court has discretion to grant that enlargement, so a timely motion grounded in good reason can extend the deadline for a response.

This approach protects parties who need extra time due to factors like gathering information or consulting with counsel, while keeping cases moving fairly. The key point in this question is that the extension must be requested before the expiration; the court’s willingness to grant the extension is the mechanism that makes it possible.

Unilaterally enlarging a deadline isn’t allowed, and the focus here is on a timely court-approved extension, not on actions after the deadline has passed or on automatic extensions.