Under the mailbox rule, when is a document timely filed?

• A. A document mailed is timely if postmarked on or before the due date
• B. A document mailed is timely if the clerk receives it not later than the 10th day after the due date
• C. The mailbox rule does not apply to appeal bonds
• D. A document mailed is timely only if received the same day as due date

Answer: (B)

Under the mailbox rule, timeliness is about when the document is actually received by the clerk, not just when it is mailed. The key idea is to protect you from mail delays by allowing a grace period after the due date for delivery and acceptance. The correct option reflects that grace period: a document is timely if the clerk receives it no later than the 10th day after the due date. For example, if something is due on July 1, mailing it on or before July 1 and having the clerk receive it by July 11 makes it timely; arriving after that would be late. The other statements either rely on postmarks alone, require the document to be received on the due date, or imply special treatment for items like appeal bonds that isn’t universally true.