diff --git a/src/documents/plugins/date_parsing/__init__.py b/src/documents/plugins/date_parsing/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f540ce155
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/documents/plugins/date_parsing/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1,88 @@
+import logging
+from functools import lru_cache
+from importlib.metadata import EntryPoint
+from importlib.metadata import entry_points
+from typing import Final
+
+from django.conf import settings
+from django.utils import timezone
+
+from documents.plugins.date_parsing.base import DateParserConfig
+from documents.plugins.date_parsing.base import DateParserPluginBase
+from documents.plugins.date_parsing.regex_parser import RegexDateParserPlugin
+
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
+DATE_PARSER_ENTRY_POINT_GROUP: Final = "paperless_ngx.date_parsers"
+
+
+@lru_cache(maxsize=1)
+def _discover_parser_class() -> type[DateParserPluginBase]:
+    """
+    Discovers the date parser plugin class to use.
+
+    - If one or more plugins are found, sorts them by name and returns the first.
+    - If no plugins are found, returns the default RegexDateParser.
+    """
+
+    eps: tuple[EntryPoint, ...]
+    try:
+        eps = entry_points(group=DATE_PARSER_ENTRY_POINT_GROUP)
+    except Exception as e:
+        # Log a warning
+        logger.warning(f"Could not query entry points for date parsers: {e}")
+        eps = tuple()
+
+    valid_plugins: list[EntryPoint] = []
+    for ep in eps:
+        try:
+            plugin_class = ep.load()
+            if plugin_class and issubclass(plugin_class, DateParserPluginBase):
+                valid_plugins.append(ep)
+            else:
+                logger.warning(f"Plugin {ep.name} does not subclass DateParser.")
+        except Exception as e:
+            logger.error(f"Unable to load date parser plugin {ep.name}: {e}")
+
+    if not valid_plugins:
+        return RegexDateParserPlugin
+
+    valid_plugins.sort(key=lambda ep: ep.name)
+
+    if len(valid_plugins) > 1:
+        logger.warning(
+            f"Multiple date parsers found: "
+            f"{[ep.name for ep in valid_plugins]}. "
+            f"Using the first one by name: '{valid_plugins[0].name}'.",
+        )
+
+    return valid_plugins[0].load()
+
+
+def get_date_parser() -> DateParserPluginBase:
+    """
+    Factory function to get an initialized date parser instance.
+
+    This function is responsible for:
+    1. Discovering the correct parser class (plugin or default).
+    2. Loading configuration from Django settings.
+    3. Instantiating the parser with the configuration.
+    """
+    # 1. Discover the class (this is cached)
+    parser_class = _discover_parser_class()
+
+    # 2. Load configuration from settings
+    # TODO: Get the language from the settings and/or configuration object, depending
+    languages = settings.DATE_PARSER_LANGUAGES
+
+    config = DateParserConfig(
+        languages=languages,
+        timezone_str=settings.TIME_ZONE,
+        ignore_dates=settings.IGNORE_DATES,
+        reference_time=timezone.now(),
+        filename_date_order=settings.FILENAME_DATE_ORDER,
+        content_date_order=settings.DATE_ORDER,
+    )
+
+    # 3. Instantiate the discovered class with the config
+    return parser_class(config=config)
diff --git a/src/documents/plugins/date_parsing/base.py b/src/documents/plugins/date_parsing/base.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..09e49e30b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/documents/plugins/date_parsing/base.py
@@ -0,0 +1,96 @@
+import datetime
+import logging
+from abc import ABC
+from abc import abstractmethod
+from collections.abc import Iterator
+from dataclasses import dataclass
+from pathlib import Path
+
+import dateparser
+
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
+
+@dataclass(frozen=True, slots=True)
+class DateParserConfig:
+    """
+    Configuration for a DateParser instance.
+
+    This object is created by the factory and passed to the
+    parser's constructor, decoupling the parser from settings.
+    """
+
+    languages: list[str]
+    timezone_str: str
+    ignore_dates: set[datetime.date]
+
+    # A "now" timestamp for filtering future dates.
+    # Passed in by the factory.
+    reference_time: datetime.datetime
+
+    # Settings for the default RegexDateParser
+    filename_date_order: str | None
+    content_date_order: str
+
+
+class DateParserPluginBase(ABC):
+    """
+    Abstract base class for date parsing strategies.
+
+    Instances are configured via a DateParserConfig object.
+    """
+
+    def __init__(self, config: DateParserConfig):
+        """
+        Initializes the parser with its configuration.
+        """
+        self.config = config
+
+    def _parse_string(
+        self,
+        date_string: str,
+        date_order: str,
+    ) -> datetime.datetime | None:
+        """
+        Helper method to parse a single date string using dateparser.
+
+        Uses configuration from `self.config`.
+        """
+        try:
+            return dateparser.parse(
+                date_string,
+                settings={
+                    "DATE_ORDER": date_order,
+                    "PREFER_DAY_OF_MONTH": "first",
+                    "RETURN_AS_TIMEZONE_AWARE": True,
+                    "TIMEZONE": self.config.timezone_str,
+                },
+                locales=self.config.languages,
+            )
+        except Exception as e:
+            logger.error(f"Error while parsing date string '{date_string}': {e}")
+            return None
+
+    def _filter_date(
+        self,
+        date: datetime.datetime | None,
+    ) -> datetime.datetime | None:
+        """
+        Helper method to validate a parsed datetime object.
+
+        Uses configuration from `self.config`.
+        """
+        if (
+            date is not None
+            and date.year > 1900
+            and date <= self.config.reference_time
+            and date.date() not in self.config.ignore_dates
+        ):
+            return date
+        return None
+
+    @abstractmethod
+    def parse(self, filename: Path, content: str) -> Iterator[datetime.datetime]:
+        """
+        Parses a document's filename and content, yielding valid datetime objects.
+        """
diff --git a/src/documents/plugins/date_parsing/regex_parser.py b/src/documents/plugins/date_parsing/regex_parser.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..7972efd7f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/documents/plugins/date_parsing/regex_parser.py
@@ -0,0 +1,66 @@
+import datetime
+import re
+from collections.abc import Iterator
+from pathlib import Path
+from re import Match
+
+from documents.plugins.date_parsing.base import DateParserPluginBase
+
+
+class RegexDateParserPlugin(DateParserPluginBase):
+    """
+    The default date parser, using a series of regular expressions.
+
+    It is configured entirely by the DateParserConfig object
+    passed to its constructor.
+    """
+
+    DATE_REGEX = re.compile(
+        r"(\b|(?!=([_-])))(\d{1,2})[\.\/-](\d{1,2})[\.\/-](\d{4}|\d{2})(\b|(?=([_-])))|"
+        r"(\b|(?!=([_-])))(\d{4}|\d{2})[\.\/-](\d{1,2})[\.\/-](\d{1,2})(\b|(?=([_-])))|"
+        r"(\b|(?!=([_-])))(\d{1,2}[\. ]+[a-zéûäëčžúřěáíóńźçŞğü]{3,9} \d{4}|[a-zéûäëčžúřěáíóńźçŞğü]{3,9} \d{1,2}, \d{4})(\b|(?=([_-])))|"
+        r"(\b|(?!=([_-])))([^\W\d_]{3,9} \d{1,2}, (\d{4}))(\b|(?=([_-])))|"
+        r"(\b|(?!=([_-])))([^\W\d_]{3,9} \d{4})(\b|(?=([_-])))|"
+        r"(\b|(?!=([_-])))(\d{1,2}[^ 0-9]{2}[\. ]+[^ ]{3,9}[ \.\/-]\d{4})(\b|(?=([_-])))|"
+        r"(\b|(?!=([_-])))(\b\d{1,2}[ \.\/-][a-zéûäëčžúřěáíóńźçŞğü]{3}[ \.\/-]\d{4})(\b|(?=([_-])))",
+        re.IGNORECASE,
+    )
+
+    def _process_match(
+        self,
+        match: Match[str],
+        date_order: str,
+    ) -> datetime.datetime | None:
+        """
+        Processes a single regex match using the base class helpers.
+        """
+        date_string = match.group(0)
+        date = self._parse_string(date_string, date_order)
+        return self._filter_date(date)
+
+    def _process_content(
+        self,
+        content: str,
+        date_order: str,
+    ) -> Iterator[datetime.datetime]:
+        """
+        Finds all regex matches in content and yields valid dates.
+        """
+        for m in re.finditer(self.DATE_REGEX, content):
+            date = self._process_match(m, date_order)
+            if date is not None:
+                yield date
+
+    def parse(self, filename: Path, content: str) -> Iterator[datetime.datetime]:
+        """
+        Implementation of the abstract parse method.
+
+        Reads its configuration from `self.config`.
+        """
+        if self.config.filename_date_order:
+            yield from self._process_content(
+                filename.name,
+                self.config.filename_date_order,
+            )
+
+        yield from self._process_content(content, self.config.content_date_order)
diff --git a/src/documents/tests/date_parsing/__init__.py b/src/documents/tests/date_parsing/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e69de29bb
diff --git a/src/documents/tests/date_parsing/conftest.py b/src/documents/tests/date_parsing/conftest.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..ea9e2447d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/documents/tests/date_parsing/conftest.py
@@ -0,0 +1,82 @@
+import datetime
+from collections.abc import Generator
+from typing import Any
+
+import pytest
+import pytest_django
+
+from documents.plugins.date_parsing import _discover_parser_class
+from documents.plugins.date_parsing.base import DateParserConfig
+from documents.plugins.date_parsing.regex_parser import RegexDateParserPlugin
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def base_config() -> DateParserConfig:
+    """Basic configuration for date parser testing."""
+    return DateParserConfig(
+        languages=["en"],
+        timezone_str="UTC",
+        ignore_dates=set(),
+        reference_time=datetime.datetime(
+            2024,
+            1,
+            15,
+            12,
+            0,
+            0,
+            tzinfo=datetime.timezone.utc,
+        ),
+        filename_date_order="YMD",
+        content_date_order="DMY",
+    )
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def config_with_ignore_dates() -> DateParserConfig:
+    """Configuration with dates to ignore."""
+    return DateParserConfig(
+        languages=["en", "de"],
+        timezone_str="America/New_York",
+        ignore_dates={datetime.date(2024, 1, 1), datetime.date(2024, 12, 25)},
+        reference_time=datetime.datetime(
+            2024,
+            1,
+            15,
+            12,
+            0,
+            0,
+            tzinfo=datetime.timezone.utc,
+        ),
+        filename_date_order="DMY",
+        content_date_order="MDY",
+    )
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def regex_parser(base_config: DateParserConfig) -> RegexDateParserPlugin:
+    """Instance of RegexDateParser with base config."""
+    return RegexDateParserPlugin(base_config)
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def clear_lru_cache() -> Generator[None, None, None]:
+    """
+    Ensure the LRU cache for _discover_parser_class is cleared
+    before and after any test that depends on it.
+    """
+    _discover_parser_class.cache_clear()
+    yield
+    _discover_parser_class.cache_clear()
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def mock_date_parser_settings(settings: pytest_django.fixtures.SettingsWrapper) -> Any:
+    """
+    Override Django settings for the duration of date parser tests.
+    """
+    settings.DATE_PARSER_LANGUAGES = ["en", "de"]
+    settings.TIME_ZONE = "UTC"
+    settings.IGNORE_DATES = [datetime.date(1900, 1, 1)]
+    settings.FILENAME_DATE_ORDER = "YMD"
+    settings.DATE_ORDER = "DMY"
+    return settings
diff --git a/src/documents/tests/date_parsing/test_date_parser_plugin_loading.py b/src/documents/tests/date_parsing/test_date_parser_plugin_loading.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..9da939a76
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/documents/tests/date_parsing/test_date_parser_plugin_loading.py
@@ -0,0 +1,237 @@
+import datetime
+import logging
+from collections.abc import Iterator
+from importlib.metadata import EntryPoint
+from pathlib import Path
+
+import pytest
+import pytest_mock
+from django.utils import timezone
+
+from documents.plugins.date_parsing import DATE_PARSER_ENTRY_POINT_GROUP
+from documents.plugins.date_parsing import _discover_parser_class
+from documents.plugins.date_parsing import get_date_parser
+from documents.plugins.date_parsing.base import DateParserConfig
+from documents.plugins.date_parsing.base import DateParserPluginBase
+from documents.plugins.date_parsing.regex_parser import RegexDateParserPlugin
+
+
+class AlphaParser(DateParserPluginBase):
+    def parse(self, filename: Path, content: str) -> Iterator[datetime.datetime]:
+        yield timezone.now()
+
+
+class BetaParser(DateParserPluginBase):
+    def parse(self, filename: Path, content: str) -> Iterator[datetime.datetime]:
+        yield timezone.now()
+
+
+@pytest.mark.date_parsing
+@pytest.mark.usefixtures("clear_lru_cache")
+class TestDiscoverParserClass:
+    """Tests for the _discover_parser_class() function."""
+
+    def test_returns_default_when_no_plugins_found(
+        self,
+        mocker: pytest_mock.MockerFixture,
+    ) -> None:
+        mocker.patch(
+            "documents.plugins.date_parsing.entry_points",
+            return_value=tuple(),
+        )
+        result = _discover_parser_class()
+        assert result is RegexDateParserPlugin
+
+    def test_returns_default_when_entrypoint_query_fails(
+        self,
+        mocker: pytest_mock.MockerFixture,
+        caplog: pytest.LogCaptureFixture,
+    ) -> None:
+        mocker.patch(
+            "documents.plugins.date_parsing.entry_points",
+            side_effect=RuntimeError("boom"),
+        )
+        result = _discover_parser_class()
+        assert result is RegexDateParserPlugin
+        assert "Could not query entry points" in caplog.text
+
+    def test_filters_out_invalid_plugins(
+        self,
+        mocker: pytest_mock.MockerFixture,
+        caplog: pytest.LogCaptureFixture,
+    ) -> None:
+        fake_ep = mocker.MagicMock(spec=EntryPoint)
+        fake_ep.name = "bad_plugin"
+        fake_ep.load.return_value = object  # not subclass of DateParser
+
+        mocker.patch(
+            "documents.plugins.date_parsing.entry_points",
+            return_value=(fake_ep,),
+        )
+
+        result = _discover_parser_class()
+        assert result is RegexDateParserPlugin
+        assert "does not subclass DateParser" in caplog.text
+
+    def test_skips_plugins_that_fail_to_load(
+        self,
+        mocker: pytest_mock.MockerFixture,
+        caplog: pytest.LogCaptureFixture,
+    ) -> None:
+        fake_ep = mocker.MagicMock(spec=EntryPoint)
+        fake_ep.name = "failing_plugin"
+        fake_ep.load.side_effect = ImportError("cannot import")
+
+        mocker.patch(
+            "documents.plugins.date_parsing.entry_points",
+            return_value=(fake_ep,),
+        )
+
+        result = _discover_parser_class()
+        assert result is RegexDateParserPlugin
+        assert "Unable to load date parser plugin failing_plugin" in caplog.text
+
+    def test_returns_single_valid_plugin_without_warning(
+        self,
+        mocker: pytest_mock.MockerFixture,
+        caplog: pytest.LogCaptureFixture,
+    ) -> None:
+        """If exactly one valid plugin is discovered, it should be returned without logging a warning."""
+
+        class AlphaPlugin(DateParserPluginBase):
+            def parse(
+                self,
+                filename: Path,
+                content: str,
+            ) -> Iterator[datetime.datetime]:
+                yield timezone.now()
+
+        ep = mocker.MagicMock(spec=EntryPoint)
+        ep.name = "alpha"
+        ep.load.return_value = AlphaPlugin
+
+        mock_entry_points = mocker.patch(
+            "documents.plugins.date_parsing.entry_points",
+            return_value=(ep,),
+        )
+
+        with caplog.at_level(
+            logging.WARNING,
+            logger="documents.plugins.date_parsing",
+        ):
+            result = _discover_parser_class()
+
+        # It should have called entry_points with the correct group
+        mock_entry_points.assert_called_once_with(group=DATE_PARSER_ENTRY_POINT_GROUP)
+
+        # The discovered class should be exactly our AlphaPlugin
+        assert result is AlphaPlugin
+
+        # No warnings should have been logged
+        assert not any(
+            "Multiple date parsers found" in record.message for record in caplog.records
+        ), "Unexpected warning logged when only one plugin was found"
+
+    def test_returns_first_valid_plugin_by_name(
+        self,
+        mocker: pytest_mock.MockerFixture,
+    ) -> None:
+        ep_a = mocker.MagicMock(spec=EntryPoint)
+        ep_a.name = "alpha"
+        ep_a.load.return_value = AlphaParser
+
+        ep_b = mocker.MagicMock(spec=EntryPoint)
+        ep_b.name = "beta"
+        ep_b.load.return_value = BetaParser
+
+        mocker.patch(
+            "documents.plugins.date_parsing.entry_points",
+            return_value=(ep_b, ep_a),
+        )
+
+        result = _discover_parser_class()
+        assert result is AlphaParser
+
+    def test_logs_warning_if_multiple_plugins_found(
+        self,
+        mocker: pytest_mock.MockerFixture,
+        caplog: pytest.LogCaptureFixture,
+    ) -> None:
+        ep1 = mocker.MagicMock(spec=EntryPoint)
+        ep1.name = "a"
+        ep1.load.return_value = AlphaParser
+
+        ep2 = mocker.MagicMock(spec=EntryPoint)
+        ep2.name = "b"
+        ep2.load.return_value = BetaParser
+
+        mocker.patch(
+            "documents.plugins.date_parsing.entry_points",
+            return_value=(ep1, ep2),
+        )
+
+        with caplog.at_level(
+            logging.WARNING,
+            logger="documents.plugins.date_parsing",
+        ):
+            result = _discover_parser_class()
+
+        # Should select alphabetically first plugin ("a")
+        assert result is AlphaParser
+
+        # Should log a warning mentioning multiple parsers
+        assert any(
+            "Multiple date parsers found" in record.message for record in caplog.records
+        ), "Expected a warning about multiple date parsers"
+
+    def test_cache_behavior_only_runs_once(
+        self,
+        mocker: pytest_mock.MockerFixture,
+    ) -> None:
+        mock_entry_points = mocker.patch(
+            "documents.plugins.date_parsing.entry_points",
+            return_value=tuple(),
+        )
+
+        # First call populates cache
+        _discover_parser_class()
+        # Second call should not re-invoke entry_points
+        _discover_parser_class()
+        mock_entry_points.assert_called_once()
+
+
+@pytest.mark.date_parsing
+@pytest.mark.usefixtures("mock_date_parser_settings")
+class TestGetDateParser:
+    """Tests for the get_date_parser() factory function."""
+
+    def test_returns_instance_of_discovered_class(
+        self,
+        mocker: pytest_mock.MockerFixture,
+    ) -> None:
+        mocker.patch(
+            "documents.plugins.date_parsing._discover_parser_class",
+            return_value=AlphaParser,
+        )
+        parser = get_date_parser()
+        assert isinstance(parser, AlphaParser)
+        assert isinstance(parser.config, DateParserConfig)
+        assert parser.config.languages == ["en", "de"]
+        assert parser.config.timezone_str == "UTC"
+        assert parser.config.ignore_dates == [datetime.date(1900, 1, 1)]
+        assert parser.config.filename_date_order == "YMD"
+        assert parser.config.content_date_order == "DMY"
+        # Check reference_time near now
+        delta = abs((parser.config.reference_time - timezone.now()).total_seconds())
+        assert delta < 2
+
+    def test_uses_default_regex_parser_when_no_plugins(
+        self,
+        mocker: pytest_mock.MockerFixture,
+    ) -> None:
+        mocker.patch(
+            "documents.plugins.date_parsing._discover_parser_class",
+            return_value=RegexDateParserPlugin,
+        )
+        parser = get_date_parser()
+        assert isinstance(parser, RegexDateParserPlugin)
diff --git a/src/documents/tests/date_parsing/test_date_parsing.py b/src/documents/tests/date_parsing/test_date_parsing.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f0948324a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/documents/tests/date_parsing/test_date_parsing.py
@@ -0,0 +1,422 @@
+import datetime
+import logging
+from pathlib import Path
+
+import pytest
+import pytest_mock
+
+from documents.plugins.date_parsing.base import DateParserConfig
+from documents.plugins.date_parsing.regex_parser import RegexDateParserPlugin
+
+
+@pytest.mark.date_parsing
+class TestParseString:
+    """Tests for DateParser._parse_string method via RegexDateParser."""
+
+    @pytest.mark.parametrize(
+        ("date_string", "date_order", "expected_year"),
+        [
+            pytest.param("15/01/2024", "DMY", 2024, id="dmy_slash"),
+            pytest.param("01/15/2024", "MDY", 2024, id="mdy_slash"),
+            pytest.param("2024/01/15", "YMD", 2024, id="ymd_slash"),
+            pytest.param("January 15, 2024", "DMY", 2024, id="month_name_comma"),
+            pytest.param("15 Jan 2024", "DMY", 2024, id="day_abbr_month_year"),
+            pytest.param("15.01.2024", "DMY", 2024, id="dmy_dot"),
+            pytest.param("2024-01-15", "YMD", 2024, id="ymd_dash"),
+        ],
+    )
+    def test_parse_string_valid_formats(
+        self,
+        regex_parser: RegexDateParserPlugin,
+        date_string: str,
+        date_order: str,
+        expected_year: int,
+    ) -> None:
+        """Should correctly parse various valid date formats."""
+        result = regex_parser._parse_string(date_string, date_order)
+
+        assert result is not None
+        assert result.year == expected_year
+
+    @pytest.mark.parametrize(
+        "invalid_string",
+        [
+            pytest.param("not a date", id="plain_text"),
+            pytest.param("32/13/2024", id="invalid_day_month"),
+            pytest.param("", id="empty_string"),
+            pytest.param("abc123xyz", id="alphanumeric_gibberish"),
+            pytest.param("99/99/9999", id="out_of_range"),
+        ],
+    )
+    def test_parse_string_invalid_input(
+        self,
+        regex_parser: RegexDateParserPlugin,
+        invalid_string: str,
+    ) -> None:
+        """Should return None for invalid date strings."""
+        result = regex_parser._parse_string(invalid_string, "DMY")
+
+        assert result is None
+
+    def test_parse_string_handles_exceptions(
+        self,
+        caplog: pytest.LogCaptureFixture,
+        mocker: pytest_mock.MockerFixture,
+        regex_parser: RegexDateParserPlugin,
+    ) -> None:
+        """Should handle and log exceptions from dateparser gracefully."""
+        with caplog.at_level(
+            logging.ERROR,
+            logger="documents.plugins.date_parsing.base",
+        ):
+            # We still need to mock dateparser.parse to force the exception
+            mocker.patch(
+                "documents.plugins.date_parsing.base.dateparser.parse",
+                side_effect=ValueError(
+                    "Parsing error: 01/01/2024",
+                ),
+            )
+
+            # 1. Execute the function under test
+            result = regex_parser._parse_string("01/01/2024", "DMY")
+
+            assert result is None
+
+            # Check if an error was logged
+            assert len(caplog.records) == 1
+            assert caplog.records[0].levelname == "ERROR"
+
+            # Check if the specific error message is present
+            assert "Error while parsing date string" in caplog.text
+            # Optional: Check for the exact exception message if it's included in the log
+            assert "Parsing error: 01/01/2024" in caplog.text
+
+
+@pytest.mark.date_parsing
+class TestFilterDate:
+    """Tests for DateParser._filter_date method via RegexDateParser."""
+
+    @pytest.mark.parametrize(
+        ("date", "expected_output"),
+        [
+            # Valid Dates
+            pytest.param(
+                datetime.datetime(2024, 1, 10, tzinfo=datetime.timezone.utc),
+                datetime.datetime(2024, 1, 10, tzinfo=datetime.timezone.utc),
+                id="valid_past_date",
+            ),
+            pytest.param(
+                datetime.datetime(2024, 1, 15, 12, 0, 0, tzinfo=datetime.timezone.utc),
+                datetime.datetime(2024, 1, 15, 12, 0, 0, tzinfo=datetime.timezone.utc),
+                id="exactly_at_reference",
+            ),
+            pytest.param(
+                datetime.datetime(1901, 1, 1, tzinfo=datetime.timezone.utc),
+                datetime.datetime(1901, 1, 1, tzinfo=datetime.timezone.utc),
+                id="year_1901_valid",
+            ),
+            # Date is > reference_time
+            pytest.param(
+                datetime.datetime(2024, 1, 16, tzinfo=datetime.timezone.utc),
+                None,
+                id="future_date_day_after",
+            ),
+            # date.date() in ignore_dates
+            pytest.param(
+                datetime.datetime(2024, 1, 1, 0, 0, 0, tzinfo=datetime.timezone.utc),
+                None,
+                id="ignored_date_midnight_jan1",
+            ),
+            pytest.param(
+                datetime.datetime(2024, 1, 1, 10, 30, 0, tzinfo=datetime.timezone.utc),
+                None,
+                id="ignored_date_midday_jan1",
+            ),
+            pytest.param(
+                datetime.datetime(2024, 12, 25, 15, 0, 0, tzinfo=datetime.timezone.utc),
+                None,
+                id="ignored_date_dec25_future",
+            ),
+            # date.year <= 1900
+            pytest.param(
+                datetime.datetime(1899, 12, 31, tzinfo=datetime.timezone.utc),
+                None,
+                id="year_1899",
+            ),
+            pytest.param(
+                datetime.datetime(1900, 1, 1, tzinfo=datetime.timezone.utc),
+                None,
+                id="year_1900_boundary",
+            ),
+            # date is None
+            pytest.param(None, None, id="none_input"),
+        ],
+    )
+    def test_filter_date_validation_rules(
+        self,
+        config_with_ignore_dates: DateParserConfig,
+        date: datetime.datetime | None,
+        expected_output: datetime.datetime | None,
+    ) -> None:
+        """Should correctly validate dates against various rules."""
+        parser = RegexDateParserPlugin(config_with_ignore_dates)
+        result = parser._filter_date(date)
+        assert result == expected_output
+
+    def test_filter_date_respects_ignore_dates(
+        self,
+        config_with_ignore_dates: DateParserConfig,
+    ) -> None:
+        """Should filter out dates in the ignore_dates set."""
+        parser = RegexDateParserPlugin(config_with_ignore_dates)
+
+        ignored_date = datetime.datetime(
+            2024,
+            1,
+            1,
+            12,
+            0,
+            tzinfo=datetime.timezone.utc,
+        )
+        another_ignored = datetime.datetime(
+            2024,
+            12,
+            25,
+            15,
+            30,
+            tzinfo=datetime.timezone.utc,
+        )
+        allowed_date = datetime.datetime(
+            2024,
+            1,
+            2,
+            12,
+            0,
+            tzinfo=datetime.timezone.utc,
+        )
+
+        assert parser._filter_date(ignored_date) is None
+        assert parser._filter_date(another_ignored) is None
+        assert parser._filter_date(allowed_date) == allowed_date
+
+    def test_filter_date_timezone_aware(
+        self,
+        regex_parser: RegexDateParserPlugin,
+    ) -> None:
+        """Should work with timezone-aware datetimes."""
+        date_utc = datetime.datetime(2024, 1, 10, 12, 0, tzinfo=datetime.timezone.utc)
+
+        result = regex_parser._filter_date(date_utc)
+
+        assert result is not None
+        assert result.tzinfo is not None
+
+
+@pytest.mark.date_parsing
+@pytest.mark.regex_date_parser
+class TestRegexDateParser:
+    @pytest.mark.parametrize(
+        ("filename", "content", "expected"),
+        [
+            pytest.param(
+                "report-2023-12-25.txt",
+                "Event recorded on 25/12/2022.",
+                [
+                    datetime.datetime(2023, 12, 25, tzinfo=datetime.timezone.utc),
+                    datetime.datetime(2022, 12, 25, tzinfo=datetime.timezone.utc),
+                ],
+                id="filename-y-m-d_and_content-d-m-y",
+            ),
+            pytest.param(
+                "img_2023.01.02.jpg",
+                "Taken on 01/02/2023",
+                [
+                    datetime.datetime(2023, 1, 2, tzinfo=datetime.timezone.utc),
+                    datetime.datetime(2023, 2, 1, tzinfo=datetime.timezone.utc),
+                ],
+                id="ambiguous-dates-respect-orders",
+            ),
+            pytest.param(
+                "notes.txt",
+                "bad date 99/99/9999 and 25/12/2022",
+                [
+                    datetime.datetime(2022, 12, 25, tzinfo=datetime.timezone.utc),
+                ],
+                id="parse-exception-skips-bad-and-yields-good",
+            ),
+        ],
+    )
+    def test_parse_returns_expected_dates(
+        self,
+        base_config: DateParserConfig,
+        mocker: pytest_mock.MockerFixture,
+        filename: str,
+        content: str,
+        expected: list[datetime.datetime],
+    ) -> None:
+        """
+        High-level tests that exercise RegexDateParser.parse only.
+        dateparser.parse is mocked so tests are deterministic.
+        """
+        parser = RegexDateParserPlugin(base_config)
+
+        # Patch the dateparser.parse
+        target = "documents.plugins.date_parsing.base.dateparser.parse"
+
+        def fake_parse(date_string: str, settings=None, locales=None):
+            date_order = settings.get("DATE_ORDER") if settings else None
+
+            # Filename-style YYYY-MM-DD / YYYY.MM.DD
+            if (
+                "2023-12-25" in date_string
+                or "2023.12.25" in date_string
+                or "2023-12-25" in date_string
+            ):
+                return datetime.datetime(2023, 12, 25, tzinfo=datetime.timezone.utc)
+
+            # content DMY 25/12/2022
+            if "25/12/2022" in date_string or "25-12-2022" in date_string:
+                return datetime.datetime(2022, 12, 25, tzinfo=datetime.timezone.utc)
+
+            # filename YMD 2023.01.02
+            if "2023.01.02" in date_string or "2023-01-02" in date_string:
+                return datetime.datetime(2023, 1, 2, tzinfo=datetime.timezone.utc)
+
+            # ambiguous 01/02/2023 -> respect DATE_ORDER setting
+            if "01/02/2023" in date_string:
+                if date_order == "DMY":
+                    return datetime.datetime(2023, 2, 1, tzinfo=datetime.timezone.utc)
+                if date_order == "YMD":
+                    return datetime.datetime(2023, 1, 2, tzinfo=datetime.timezone.utc)
+                # fallback
+                return datetime.datetime(2023, 2, 1, tzinfo=datetime.timezone.utc)
+
+            # simulate parse failure for malformed input
+            if "99/99/9999" in date_string or "bad date" in date_string:
+                raise Exception("parse failed for malformed date")
+
+            return None
+
+        mocker.patch(target, side_effect=fake_parse)
+
+        results = list(parser.parse(Path(filename), content))
+
+        assert results == expected
+        for dt in results:
+            assert dt.tzinfo is not None
+
+    def test_parse_filters_future_and_ignored_dates(
+        self,
+        mocker: pytest_mock.MockerFixture,
+    ) -> None:
+        """
+        Ensure parser filters out:
+          - dates after reference_time
+          - dates whose .date() are in ignore_dates
+        """
+        cfg = DateParserConfig(
+            languages=["en"],
+            timezone_str="UTC",
+            ignore_dates={datetime.date(2023, 12, 10)},
+            reference_time=datetime.datetime(
+                2024,
+                1,
+                15,
+                12,
+                0,
+                0,
+                tzinfo=datetime.timezone.utc,
+            ),
+            filename_date_order="YMD",
+            content_date_order="DMY",
+        )
+        parser = RegexDateParserPlugin(cfg)
+
+        target = "documents.plugins.date_parsing.base.dateparser.parse"
+
+        def fake_parse(date_string: str, settings=None, locales=None):
+            if "10/12/2023" in date_string or "10-12-2023" in date_string:
+                # ignored date
+                return datetime.datetime(2023, 12, 10, tzinfo=datetime.timezone.utc)
+            if "01/02/2024" in date_string or "01-02-2024" in date_string:
+                # future relative to reference_time -> filtered
+                return datetime.datetime(2024, 2, 1, tzinfo=datetime.timezone.utc)
+            if "05/01/2023" in date_string or "05-01-2023" in date_string:
+                # valid
+                return datetime.datetime(2023, 1, 5, tzinfo=datetime.timezone.utc)
+            return None
+
+        mocker.patch(target, side_effect=fake_parse)
+
+        content = "Ignored: 10/12/2023, Future: 01/02/2024, Keep: 05/01/2023"
+        results = list(parser.parse(Path("whatever.txt"), content))
+
+        assert results == [datetime.datetime(2023, 1, 5, tzinfo=datetime.timezone.utc)]
+
+    def test_parse_handles_no_matches_and_returns_empty_list(
+        self,
+        base_config: DateParserConfig,
+    ) -> None:
+        """
+        When there are no matching date-like substrings, parse should yield nothing.
+        """
+        parser = RegexDateParserPlugin(base_config)
+        results = list(
+            parser.parse(Path("no-dates.txt"), "this has no dates whatsoever"),
+        )
+        assert results == []
+
+    def test_parse_skips_filename_when_filename_date_order_none(
+        self,
+        mocker: pytest_mock.MockerFixture,
+    ) -> None:
+        """
+        When filename_date_order is None the parser must not attempt to parse the filename.
+        Only dates found in the content should be passed to dateparser.parse.
+        """
+        cfg = DateParserConfig(
+            languages=["en"],
+            timezone_str="UTC",
+            ignore_dates=set(),
+            reference_time=datetime.datetime(
+                2024,
+                1,
+                15,
+                12,
+                0,
+                0,
+                tzinfo=datetime.timezone.utc,
+            ),
+            filename_date_order=None,
+            content_date_order="DMY",
+        )
+        parser = RegexDateParserPlugin(cfg)
+
+        # Patch the module's dateparser.parse so we can inspect calls
+        target = "documents.plugins.date_parsing.base.dateparser.parse"
+
+        def fake_parse(date_string: str, settings=None, locales=None):
+            # return distinct datetimes so we can tell which source was parsed
+            if "25/12/2022" in date_string:
+                return datetime.datetime(2022, 12, 25, tzinfo=datetime.timezone.utc)
+            if "2023-12-25" in date_string:
+                return datetime.datetime(2023, 12, 25, tzinfo=datetime.timezone.utc)
+            return None
+
+        mock = mocker.patch(target, side_effect=fake_parse)
+
+        filename = "report-2023-12-25.txt"
+        content = "Event recorded on 25/12/2022."
+
+        results = list(parser.parse(Path(filename), content))
+
+        # Only the content date should have been parsed -> one call
+        assert mock.call_count == 1
+
+        # # first call, first positional arg
+        called_date_string = mock.call_args_list[0][0][0]
+        assert "25/12/2022" in called_date_string
+        # And the parser should have yielded the corresponding datetime
+        assert results == [
+            datetime.datetime(2022, 12, 25, tzinfo=datetime.timezone.utc),
+        ]