Memorial day: Overview, definition, and example
What is Memorial Day?
Memorial day is a U.S. federal holiday observed on the last monday of may each year. It honors and remembers the men and women who died while serving in the United States military. While it’s a day of remembrance, it also marks the unofficial start of summer and is often recognized with parades, ceremonies, and family gatherings.
In legal or business documents, Memorial Day is typically mentioned as a recognized public holiday, which may affect office hours, contract deadlines, or payment processing.
Why is Memorial Day important?
For businesses, memorial day matters because it’s a non-working day for most government offices, banks, and many private companies. If your contracts include deadlines tied to calendar dates—or if you process payroll, invoices, or legal filings—this holiday can impact timing.
For example, if a payment is due on a Monday that happens to be Memorial Day, many contracts will push that deadline to the next business day. Understanding which holidays are recognized in your agreement helps avoid confusion and missed deadlines.
Understanding Memorial Day through an example
Let’s say your company agrees to deliver a final report by May 27. That year, May 27 falls on Memorial Day, and your contract states that deadlines falling on public holidays automatically shift to the next business day.
As a result, your new deadline becomes Tuesday, May 28. Since government offices and banks are closed on Memorial Day, this also gives you extra time to submit any filings or payments that were originally scheduled for that day.
An example of a Memorial Day reference in a contract
Here’s how memorial day (and other holidays) might be mentioned in a business contract:
“If any deadline under this Agreement falls on a weekend or a U.S. federal holiday (including but not limited to Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Thanksgiving Day), such deadline shall be extended to the next business day.”
Conclusion
Memorial day is more than just a long weekend—it’s a recognized federal holiday that can impact your business operations, especially when it comes to timelines, payments, and government services.
If your contracts involve time-sensitive obligations, make sure you account for public holidays like Memorial Day. Doing so helps you stay compliant, avoid penalties, and plan more effectively around national observances.
This article contains general legal information and does not contain legal advice. Cobrief is not a law firm or a substitute for an attorney or law firm. The law is complex and changes often. For legal advice, please ask a lawyer.