Statute of Limitations by State
How long do you have to file a lawsuit? Look it up by state and claim type across all 50 states and DC, with the official statute citation for every period.
This tool provides estimates for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Limitation periods depend on discovery rules, tolling, statutes of repose, and the specific facts. Always verify against the cited statute or consult an attorney.
Statute of limitations by state
Pick your state for its full list of civil filing deadlines, every period linked to its official statute.
What is a statute of limitations?
A statute of limitations is the legal deadline for starting a lawsuit. The clock usually starts when the claim "accrues", often the date of the injury or breach, or, under a discovery rule, when the harm reasonably should have been discovered. Once the period runs out, the claim is normally barred no matter how strong it is.
Two things commonly change the math: tolling (the clock pauses, for example, while the injured person is a minor or the defendant is out of state) and a statute of repose (an absolute outer cutoff that runs regardless of discovery). Periods vary by state and by the type of claim, which is why the lookup above asks for both.
How long do you have to file?
It depends on the state and the kind of claim. A few representative ranges (use the lookup for your state's exact, cited figure):
| Claim type | Common range | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Personal injury | 1–6 years | 1 yr (TN, KY) · 2 yrs (CA, TX, FL) · 3 yrs (NY, WA) · 6 yrs (MN) |
| Written contract | 3–15 years | 3 yrs (CO, NC) · 4 yrs (CA, TX) · 6 yrs (NY, OH) · 10 yrs (IL, IA) · 15 yrs (KY) |
| Oral contract | 2–10 years | 2 yrs (CA) · 3 yrs (TX, AR) · 4 yrs (OH) · 6 yrs (NY) |
| Property damage | 2–6 years | 2 yrs (TX, AZ) · 3 yrs (NY, NC) · 5 yrs (VA, FL) · 6 yrs (MN) |
| Defamation (libel/slander) | 1–3 years | 1 yr (most states) · 2 yrs (FL, WA, CT, NV) · 3 yrs (MA, WI) |
| Medical malpractice | 1–3 years | 1 yr (OH) · 2 yrs (TX, IL, CT, FL) · 3 yrs (CA, WI) |
Figures above are illustrative; the tool returns the period for your exact state and claim, each linked to its official statute.
Statute of limitations on debt
Debt is usually treated as a contract claim, so the period tracks written vs. oral/account contracts in your state, anywhere from about 3 to 10+ years. Two things to know:
- In many states, making a payment or acknowledging the debt in writing can restart the clock, so be careful before doing either on an old debt.
- If a debt is past the statute of limitations, it's "time-barred": a collector generally can't win a lawsuit to force payment, though the debt may still appear on your record. You can respond with a debt-validation or dispute letter. Find a letter template →
Crimes with no statute of limitations
This lookup covers civil limitation periods. Criminal limitations are separate and set by each state's penal code. As a general matter, murder has no statute of limitations in nearly every state, and many states have eliminated or extended the period for serious offenses, including certain sexual offenses, especially against children. Check your state's criminal code for specifics.
Need a filing deadline instead?
Once you know a claim is timely, the next question is usually how to count a specific deadline, like 30 days to answer a complaint or a court-day filing window. Our deadline calculator handles calendar, business, and court days, with state court holidays built in.
Open the deadline calculator →Frequently asked questions
What is a statute of limitations?
What happens if the statute of limitations runs out?
Does the statute of limitations on debt restart?
What crimes have no statute of limitations?
Is this legal advice?
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