Class period
The class period is the range of dates during which you had to buy, use or be affected by something to be included in a class action.
Also called: class period dates, covered period, settlement class period, relevant period
The class period is the range of dates during which you had to buy, use or be affected by something to be included in a class action.
What it means
The class period is the date range written into a class definition. To be a class member, your purchase, subscription, account, visit or other covered event usually has to fall inside it.
The dates come from the facts of the case: when the conduct began, when it stopped, and how far back the law lets people recover. Some class periods end on a fixed date. Others run until a later milestone, such as the deadline to opt out or the date a court approves the settlement.
Don't mix up three different dates. The class period is when the thing happened to you. The claim deadline is the last day to file for money. A statute of limitations is the legal time limit for filing a lawsuit. Each one works separately, and the notice for your settlement spells out the first two.
What it means for you
Check the dates against your records: order history, card or bank statements, app store receipts and account emails. An event even one day outside the class period may not count. If you were a customer for only part of the period, you may still qualify, and some settlements pay more the more you bought or used during it. If you can't find records, the claim form will say what, if anything, you need to submit. Many settlements accept a sworn statement instead of documents, but check. The settlement website states the class period in the section that describes who is included.
Example
Say a class period runs from March 1, 2021 to August 31, 2024. You subscribed to the service in February 2021 and kept it through 2025. You were a customer during the class period, so you may qualify, and the settlement terms decide how that affects your payment. A friend who canceled in January 2021 was never a customer during those dates, so she isn't covered.
FAQ
No. The class period is when your purchase or experience had to happen, while the claim deadline is the last day to file. You need to fall inside the first and file before the second.
You are generally covered if at least one purchase or use falls inside the class period, but the settlement terms decide how your payment is figured. The claim form or the settlement website will explain which purchases count.
Related terms
Updated Oct 18, 2026. Plain-English definitions for general information — not legal or tax advice.