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.

50 states + DC 8 claim types Official citations

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.

Browse by state

Pick your state and the lookup above runs with it preselected. Every period links 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.

State-by-state statute of limitations chart

Every verified limitation period we publish, by state and claim type, each linked to its official statute. Open a state below, or use the lookup above to check a specific date.

Alabama

Alabama statute of limitations by claim type
Claim type	Period	Statute
Personal injury	2 years	Ala. Code § 6-2-38
Wrongful death	2 years	Ala. Code § 6-2-38
Written contract	6 years (simple contract (written or oral))	Ala. Code § 6-2-34(9)
Oral contract	6 years (simple contract)	Ala. Code § 6-2-34(9)
Property damage	2 years (injury to personal property; 2 years)	Ala. Code § 6-2-38(l)
Medical malpractice	2 years (2 yrs; 6-month discovery; 4-year repose)	Ala. Code § 6-5-482
Defamation (libel/slander)	2 years (libel and slander; 2 years)	Ala. Code § 6-2-38(k)
Debt collection	3 years (open account; written contract debt is 6 yrs (§ 6-2-34))	Ala. Code § 6-2-37

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Alaska

Alaska statute of limitations by claim type
Claim type	Period	Statute
Personal injury	2 years	Alaska Stat. § 09.10.070
Wrongful death	2 years (2-year tort period (action under AS 09.55.580))	Alaska Stat. § 09.10.070
Written contract	3 years	Alaska Stat. § 09.10.053
Oral contract	3 years	Alaska Stat. § 09.10.053
Property damage	2 years	Alaska Stat. § 09.10.070
Medical malpractice	2 years (2 yrs from accrual/discovery; 10-year repose)	Alaska Stat. § 09.10.070
Defamation (libel/slander)	2 years (libel and slander; 2 years)	Alaska Stat. § 09.10.070
Debt collection	3 years	Alaska Stat. § 09.10.053

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Arizona

Arizona statute of limitations by claim type
Claim type	Period	Statute
Personal injury	2 years	A.R.S. § 12-542
Wrongful death	2 years (2 years; § 12-542 covers personal injury and medical malpractice causing death)	A.R.S. § 12-542
Written contract	6 years	A.R.S. § 12-548
Oral contract	3 years	A.R.S. § 12-543
Property damage	2 years	A.R.S. § 12-542
Medical malpractice	2 years (2 yrs; § 12-542(1) expressly includes medical malpractice)	A.R.S. § 12-542
Defamation (libel/slander)	1 year	A.R.S. § 12-541
Debt collection	6 years (written; open account 3 yrs (§ 12-543))	A.R.S. § 12-548

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Arkansas

Arkansas statute of limitations by claim type
Claim type	Period	Statute
Personal injury	3 years (injury to the person; 3 years)	Ark. Code § 16-56-105
Wrongful death	3 years (3 years after the death)	Ark. Code § 16-62-102
Written contract	5 years	Ark. Code § 16-56-111
Oral contract	3 years	Ark. Code § 16-56-105
Property damage	3 years	Ark. Code § 16-56-105
Medical malpractice	2 years (2 yrs from the act; limited discovery for foreign objects)	Ark. Code § 16-114-203
Defamation (libel/slander)	1 year (slander; 1 year (libel is 3 yrs under § 16-56-105))	Ark. Code § 16-56-104
Debt collection	5 years	Ark. Code § 16-56-111

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California

California statute of limitations by claim type
Claim type	Period	Statute
Personal injury	2 years	CCP § 335.1
Wrongful death	2 years	CCP § 335.1
Written contract	4 years	CCP § 337
Oral contract	2 years	CCP § 339
Property damage	3 years	CCP § 338
Medical malpractice	3 years (3 years from injury OR 1 year after discovery, whichever is first)	CCP § 340.5
Defamation (libel/slander)	1 year	CCP § 340(c)
Debt collection	4 years	CCP § 337 (written agreement)

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Colorado

Colorado statute of limitations by claim type
Claim type	Period	Statute
Personal injury	2 years	C.R.S. § 13-80-102
Wrongful death	2 years (vehicular homicide cases: 4 yrs)	C.R.S. § 13-80-102
Written contract	3 years	C.R.S. § 13-80-101
Oral contract	3 years	C.R.S. § 13-80-101
Property damage	2 years	C.R.S. § 13-80-102
Medical malpractice	2 years (2 yrs from discovery; 3-year repose)	C.R.S. § 13-80-102.5
Defamation (libel/slander)	1 year	C.R.S. § 13-80-103
Debt collection	6 years (6 yrs for a liquidated debt/contract (credit cards, loans, accounts))	C.R.S. § 13-80-103.5

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Connecticut

Connecticut statute of limitations by claim type
Claim type	Period	Statute
Personal injury	2 years (negligence; intentional torts 3 yrs (§ 52-577))	Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-584
Wrongful death	2 years (2 yrs from death; 5-year repose from the act/omission)	Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-555
Written contract	6 years	Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-576
Oral contract	3 years	Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-581
Property damage	2 years	Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-584
Medical malpractice	2 years (2 yrs from discovery; 3-year repose)	Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-584
Defamation (libel/slander)	2 years	Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-597
Debt collection	6 years	Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-576

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Delaware

Delaware statute of limitations by claim type
Claim type	Period	Statute
Personal injury	2 years	10 Del. C. § 8119
Wrongful death	2 years (2 years from death)	10 Del. C. § 8107
Written contract	3 years	10 Del. C. § 8106
Oral contract	3 years	10 Del. C. § 8106
Property damage	2 years (injury to personal property; 2 years)	10 Del. C. § 8107
Medical malpractice	2 years (2 yrs from the injury; up to 3 yrs if not reasonably discoverable)	18 Del. C. § 6856
Defamation (libel/slander)	2 years	10 Del. C. § 8119
Debt collection	3 years	10 Del. C. § 8106

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District of Columbia

District of Columbia statute of limitations by claim type
Claim type	Period	Statute
Personal injury	3 years (residual 3-year period)	D.C. Code § 12-301(a)(8)
Wrongful death	2 years (2 years after the death (raised from 1 yr by D.C. Law 19-177))	D.C. Code § 16-2702
Written contract	3 years (simple contract; under seal 12 yrs)	D.C. Code § 12-301(a)(7)
Oral contract	3 years	D.C. Code § 12-301(a)(7)
Property damage	3 years	D.C. Code § 12-301(a)(3)
Medical malpractice	3 years	D.C. Code § 12-301(a)(8)
Defamation (libel/slander)	1 year	D.C. Code § 12-301(a)(4)
Debt collection	3 years	D.C. Code § 12-301(a)(7)

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Florida

Florida statute of limitations by claim type
Claim type	Period	Statute
Personal injury	2 years (negligence; 2-year period per 2023 reform (HB 837))	Fla. Stat. § 95.11(5)(a)
Wrongful death	2 years	Fla. Stat. § 95.11(5)(e)
Written contract	5 years	Fla. Stat. § 95.11(2)(b)
Oral contract	4 years	Fla. Stat. § 95.11(3)(j)
Property damage	4 years	Fla. Stat. § 95.11(3)(g)
Medical malpractice	2 years (2 years from discovery; 4-year outer limit)	Fla. Stat. § 95.11(5)(c)
Defamation (libel/slander)	2 years	Fla. Stat. § 95.11(5)(h)
Debt collection	5 years (on a written instrument; open accounts 4 yrs)	Fla. Stat. § 95.11(2)(b)

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Georgia

Georgia statute of limitations by claim type
Claim type	Period	Statute
Personal injury	2 years	O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33
Wrongful death	2 years (injury to the person; 2 yrs (estate-administration tolling may apply))	O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33
Written contract	6 years (simple written contract)	O.C.G.A. § 9-3-24
Oral contract	4 years	O.C.G.A. § 9-3-26
Property damage	4 years	O.C.G.A. § 9-3-32
Medical malpractice	2 years	O.C.G.A. § 9-3-71
Defamation (libel/slander)	1 year (injuries to reputation)	O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33
Debt collection	6 years (written; open account 4 yrs (§ 9-3-25))	O.C.G.A. § 9-3-24

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Hawaii

Hawaii statute of limitations by claim type
Claim type	Period	Statute
Personal injury	2 years	HRS § 657-7
Wrongful death	2 years (2 years from date of death)	HRS § 663-3
Written contract	6 years	HRS § 657-1
Oral contract	6 years	HRS § 657-1
Property damage	2 years	HRS § 657-7
Medical malpractice	2 years (2 yrs from discovery; 6-year repose)	HRS § 657-7.3
Defamation (libel/slander)	2 years (libel and slander; 2 years)	HRS § 657-4
Debt collection	6 years	HRS § 657-1

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Idaho

Idaho statute of limitations by claim type
Claim type	Period	Statute
Personal injury	2 years	Idaho Code § 5-219
Wrongful death	2 years (2-year personal-injury period applies to the wrongful-death action under Idaho Code § 5-311)	Idaho Code § 5-219(4)
Written contract	5 years	Idaho Code § 5-216
Oral contract	4 years	Idaho Code § 5-217
Property damage	2 years	Idaho Code § 5-219
Medical malpractice	2 years	Idaho Code § 5-219(4)
Defamation (libel/slander)	2 years	Idaho Code § 5-219(5)
Debt collection	5 years (written; oral 4 yrs (§ 5-217))	Idaho Code § 5-216

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Illinois

Illinois statute of limitations by claim type
Claim type	Period	Statute
Personal injury	2 years	735 ILCS 5/13-202
Wrongful death	2 years (2 years from death; 5 years if violent intentional conduct)	740 ILCS 180/2
Written contract	10 years	735 ILCS 5/13-206
Oral contract	5 years	735 ILCS 5/13-205
Property damage	5 years	735 ILCS 5/13-205
Medical malpractice	2 years (2 yrs from discovery; 4-year repose)	735 ILCS 5/13-212
Defamation (libel/slander)	1 year	735 ILCS 5/13-201
Debt collection	10 years (written; oral/account 5 yrs (§ 13-205))	735 ILCS 5/13-206

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Indiana

Indiana statute of limitations by claim type
Claim type	Period	Statute
Personal injury	2 years	Ind. Code § 34-11-2-4
Wrongful death	2 years (2 years from death)	Ind. Code § 34-23-1-1
Written contract	10 years	Ind. Code § 34-11-2-11
Oral contract	6 years	Ind. Code § 34-11-2-9
Property damage	2 years	Ind. Code § 34-11-2-4
Medical malpractice	2 years (2 yrs from the act (occurrence-based; tolled during medical-review-panel))	Ind. Code § 34-18-7-1
Defamation (libel/slander)	2 years	Ind. Code § 34-11-2-4
Debt collection	10 years	Ind. Code § 34-11-2-11

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Iowa

Iowa statute of limitations by claim type
Claim type	Period	Statute
Personal injury	2 years	Iowa Code § 614.1(2)
Wrongful death	2 years (2-year injury/death period)	Iowa Code § 614.1(2)
Written contract	10 years	Iowa Code § 614.1(5)
Oral contract	5 years	Iowa Code § 614.1(4)
Property damage	5 years	Iowa Code § 614.1(4)
Medical malpractice	2 years (2 yrs from knowledge of injury; 6-year repose)	Iowa Code § 614.1(9)
Defamation (libel/slander)	2 years	Iowa Code § 614.1(2)
Debt collection	10 years	Iowa Code § 614.1(5)

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Kansas

Kansas statute of limitations by claim type
Claim type	Period	Statute
Personal injury	2 years	K.S.A. 60-513
Wrongful death	2 years (2 yrs; discovery rule; 10-year repose)	K.S.A. 60-513(a)(5)
Written contract	5 years (written agreement; oral 3 yrs (§ 60-512))	K.S.A. 60-511
Oral contract	3 years	K.S.A. 60-512
Property damage	2 years	K.S.A. 60-513
Medical malpractice	2 years	K.S.A. 60-513
Defamation (libel/slander)	1 year	K.S.A. 60-514
Debt collection	3 years (oral/account; written contract 5 yrs (§ 60-511))	K.S.A. 60-512

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Kentucky

Kentucky statute of limitations by claim type
Claim type	Period	Statute
Personal injury	1 year	Ky. Rev. Stat. § 413.140
Wrongful death	1 year (1 yr; runs from appointment of the personal representative (KRS 413.180), capped at 2 yrs from death)	Ky. Rev. Stat. § 413.140(1)(a)
Written contract	15 years	Ky. Rev. Stat. § 413.090
Oral contract	5 years	Ky. Rev. Stat. § 413.120
Property damage	2 years (injury to personal property; 2 years)	Ky. Rev. Stat. § 413.125
Medical malpractice	1 year (1 yr from act or discovery; 5-year repose (§ 413.140(2)))	Ky. Rev. Stat. § 413.140(1)(e)
Defamation (libel/slander)	1 year	Ky. Rev. Stat. § 413.140
Debt collection	15 years (written; oral/unwritten 5 yrs (§ 413.120))	Ky. Rev. Stat. § 413.090

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Louisiana

Louisiana statute of limitations by claim type
Claim type	Period	Statute
Personal injury	2 years (delictual action; 2 yrs from injury (Act 423, eff. 7/1/2024). Injuries before 7/1/2024 had a 1-year period.)	La. Civ. Code art. 3493.1
Wrongful death	2 years (1 year from death OR 2 years from the day injury/damage is sustained, whichever is longer)	La. Civ. Code art. 2315.2
Written contract	10 years (personal action; general 10-year liberative prescription)	La. Civ. Code art. 3499
Oral contract	10 years	La. Civ. Code art. 3499
Property damage	2 years (delictual action; 2 yrs from when damage is sustained (Act 423, eff. 7/1/2024))	La. Civ. Code art. 3493.1
Medical malpractice	1 year (1 yr from the act or from discovery, but in all events within a 3-year repose from the act)	La. R.S. 9:5628
Defamation (libel/slander)	2 years (defamation is a delictual action; 2 yrs (Act 423, eff. 7/1/2024))	La. Civ. Code art. 3493.1
Debt collection	10 years	La. Civ. Code art. 3499

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Maine

Maine statute of limitations by claim type
Claim type	Period	Statute
Personal injury	6 years (general 6-year period; assault/battery/slander 2 yrs (§ 753))	14 M.R.S. § 752
Wrongful death	3 years (3 years from death (raised from 2 by P.L. 2023, c. 390))	18-C M.R.S. § 2-807
Written contract	6 years	14 M.R.S. § 752
Oral contract	6 years	14 M.R.S. § 752
Property damage	6 years	14 M.R.S. § 752
Medical malpractice	3 years (3 yrs after the act or omission (Maine Health Security Act))	24 M.R.S. § 2902
Defamation (libel/slander)	2 years	14 M.R.S. § 753
Debt collection	6 years	14 M.R.S. § 752

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Maryland

Maryland statute of limitations by claim type
Claim type	Period	Statute
Personal injury	3 years	Md. Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-101
Wrongful death	3 years (3 years from death)	Md. Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 3-904(g)
Written contract	3 years (ordinary contract; under seal 12 yrs (§ 5-102))	Md. Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-101
Oral contract	3 years	Md. Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-101
Property damage	3 years	Md. Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-101
Medical malpractice	5 years (earlier of 5 yrs from injury or 3 yrs from discovery)	Md. Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-109
Defamation (libel/slander)	1 year	Md. Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-105
Debt collection	3 years	Md. Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-101

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Massachusetts

Massachusetts statute of limitations by claim type
Claim type	Period	Statute
Personal injury	3 years	M.G.L. c.260 § 2A
Wrongful death	3 years (3 yrs from death or from when the personal representative knew/should have known the basis (discovery))	M.G.L. c.229 § 2
Written contract	6 years	M.G.L. c.260 § 2
Oral contract	6 years	M.G.L. c.260 § 2
Property damage	3 years	M.G.L. c.260 § 2A
Medical malpractice	3 years (7-year statute of repose)	M.G.L. c.260 § 4
Defamation (libel/slander)	3 years	M.G.L. c.260 § 2A
Debt collection	6 years	M.G.L. c.260 § 2

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Michigan

Michigan statute of limitations by claim type
Claim type	Period	Statute
Personal injury	3 years (negligence; assault/battery 2 yrs)	MCL § 600.5805
Wrongful death	3 years (3 yrs from death/injury (wrongful death under MCL 600.2922 borrows this period))	MCL § 600.5805(2)
Written contract	6 years	MCL § 600.5807(9)
Oral contract	6 years	MCL § 600.5807(9)
Property damage	3 years	MCL § 600.5805
Medical malpractice	2 years (2 yrs; 6-month discovery rule; 6-year repose (MCL 600.5838a))	MCL § 600.5805(8)
Defamation (libel/slander)	1 year (libel or slander)	MCL § 600.5805(11)
Debt collection	6 years	MCL § 600.5807(9)

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Minnesota

Minnesota statute of limitations by claim type
Claim type	Period	Statute
Personal injury	6 years (negligence-based; intentional torts (assault, battery, libel/slander) are 2 yrs under § 541.07)	Minn. Stat. § 541.05(1)
Wrongful death	3 years (3 yrs from death; 6-year outer limit from the act; no limit if death by murder)	Minn. Stat. § 573.02
Written contract	6 years	Minn. Stat. § 541.05(1)
Oral contract	6 years	Minn. Stat. § 541.05(1)
Property damage	6 years	Minn. Stat. § 541.05(1)
Medical malpractice	4 years	Minn. Stat. § 541.076
Defamation (libel/slander)	2 years	Minn. Stat. § 541.07
Debt collection	6 years	Minn. Stat. § 541.05(1)

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Mississippi

Mississippi statute of limitations by claim type
Claim type	Period	Statute
Personal injury	3 years	Miss. Code § 15-1-49
Wrongful death	3 years (general 3-year period applies to wrongful death)	Miss. Code § 15-1-49
Written contract	3 years	Miss. Code § 15-1-49
Oral contract	3 years	Miss. Code § 15-1-49
Property damage	3 years	Miss. Code § 15-1-49
Medical malpractice	2 years (2 yrs from when known/discoverable; 7-year repose)	Miss. Code § 15-1-36
Defamation (libel/slander)	1 year	Miss. Code § 15-1-35
Debt collection	3 years	Miss. Code § 15-1-49

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Missouri

Missouri statute of limitations by claim type
Claim type	Period	Statute
Personal injury	5 years	RSMo § 516.120
Wrongful death	3 years (3 years from death)	RSMo § 537.100
Written contract	10 years	RSMo § 516.110
Oral contract	5 years	RSMo § 516.120
Property damage	5 years	RSMo § 516.120
Medical malpractice	2 years (2 yrs from the act; 10-year outer repose)	RSMo § 516.105
Defamation (libel/slander)	2 years	RSMo § 516.140
Debt collection	10 years (on a writing for payment of money; oral/open account 5 yrs (§ 516.120))	RSMo § 516.110

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Montana

Montana statute of limitations by claim type
Claim type	Period	Statute
Personal injury	3 years	MCA § 27-2-204
Wrongful death	3 years	MCA § 27-2-204(2)
Written contract	8 years (written contract; 8 years)	MCA § 27-2-202(1)
Oral contract	5 years	MCA § 27-2-202(2)
Property damage	2 years	MCA § 27-2-207
Medical malpractice	2 years (2 yrs from act or discovery; 5-year repose)	MCA § 27-2-205
Defamation (libel/slander)	2 years (libel and slander)	MCA § 27-2-204(3)
Debt collection	8 years (written; open account 5 yrs (§ 27-2-202(2)))	MCA § 27-2-202(1)

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Nebraska

Nebraska statute of limitations by claim type
Claim type	Period	Statute
Personal injury	4 years	Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-207
Wrongful death	2 years (2 years after the death)	Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-810
Written contract	5 years	Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-205
Oral contract	4 years	Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-206
Property damage	4 years	Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-207
Medical malpractice	2 years	Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-208
Defamation (libel/slander)	1 year	Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-208
Debt collection	5 years (written; oral 4 yrs (§ 25-206))	Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-205

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Nevada

Nevada statute of limitations by claim type
Claim type	Period	Statute
Personal injury	2 years	NRS § 11.190(4)(e)
Wrongful death	2 years (2 years)	NRS § 11.190(4)(e)
Written contract	6 years	NRS § 11.190(1)(b)
Oral contract	4 years	NRS § 11.190(2)(c)
Property damage	3 years	NRS § 11.190(3)(b)
Medical malpractice	3 years (3 yrs from injury or 2 yrs from discovery, whichever first (per 2023 amendment))	NRS § 41A.097
Defamation (libel/slander)	2 years	NRS § 11.190(4)(c)
Debt collection	6 years (written; open account 4 yrs)	NRS § 11.190(1)(b)

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New Hampshire

New Hampshire statute of limitations by claim type
Claim type	Period	Statute
Personal injury	3 years (all personal actions; 3-year discovery rule)	N.H. RSA 508:4
Wrongful death	3 years (RSA 556:11 states a 6-year outer limit but is 'subject to RSA 508'; the 3-year personal-action period (RSA 508:4) is the operative deadline)	N.H. RSA 508:4 / 556:11
Written contract	3 years	N.H. RSA 508:4
Oral contract	3 years	N.H. RSA 508:4
Property damage	3 years	N.H. RSA 508:4
Medical malpractice	3 years (3 yrs; discovery rule applies)	N.H. RSA 508:4
Defamation (libel/slander)	3 years (slander/libel; 3 years)	N.H. RSA 508:4
Debt collection	3 years	N.H. RSA 508:4

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New Jersey

New Jersey statute of limitations by claim type
Claim type	Period	Statute
Personal injury	2 years	N.J.S.A. 2A:14-2
Wrongful death	2 years (2 years from date of death)	N.J.S.A. 2A:31-3
Written contract	6 years	N.J.S.A. 2A:14-1
Oral contract	6 years	N.J.S.A. 2A:14-1
Property damage	6 years	N.J.S.A. 2A:14-1
Medical malpractice	2 years (2 yrs; discovery rule applies)	N.J.S.A. 2A:14-2
Defamation (libel/slander)	1 year	N.J.S.A. 2A:14-3
Debt collection	6 years	N.J.S.A. 2A:14-1

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New Mexico

New Mexico statute of limitations by claim type
Claim type	Period	Statute
Personal injury	3 years	N.M. Stat. § 37-1-8
Wrongful death	3 years (3 years from death)	N.M. Stat. § 41-2-2
Written contract	6 years (written contract; oral 4 yrs (§ 37-1-4))	N.M. Stat. § 37-1-3
Oral contract	4 years	N.M. Stat. § 37-1-4
Property damage	4 years	N.M. Stat. § 37-1-4
Medical malpractice	3 years (3 yrs from the act (occurrence-based; minors under 6 have until age 9))	N.M. Stat. § 41-5-13
Defamation (libel/slander)	3 years	N.M. Stat. § 37-1-8
Debt collection	4 years	N.M. Stat. § 37-1-4

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New York

New York statute of limitations by claim type
Claim type	Period	Statute
Personal injury	3 years	CPLR § 214(5)
Wrongful death	2 years (2 years from date of death)	EPTL § 5-4.1
Written contract	6 years	CPLR § 213(2)
Oral contract	6 years	CPLR § 213(2)
Property damage	3 years	CPLR § 214(4)
Medical malpractice	2.5 years (2 years 6 months)	CPLR § 214-a
Defamation (libel/slander)	1 year	CPLR § 215(3)
Debt collection	6 years	CPLR § 213(2)

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North Carolina

North Carolina statute of limitations by claim type
Claim type	Period	Statute
Personal injury	3 years	N.C.G.S. § 1-52
Wrongful death	2 years (2 years from date of death)	N.C.G.S. § 1-53(4)
Written contract	3 years	N.C.G.S. § 1-52
Oral contract	3 years	N.C.G.S. § 1-52
Property damage	3 years	N.C.G.S. § 1-52
Medical malpractice	3 years (3 yrs; 1-year discovery extension; 4-year repose)	N.C.G.S. § 1-15(c)
Defamation (libel/slander)	1 year	N.C.G.S. § 1-54
Debt collection	3 years	N.C.G.S. § 1-52

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North Dakota

North Dakota statute of limitations by claim type
Claim type	Period	Statute
Personal injury	6 years	N.D.C.C. § 28-01-16(5)
Wrongful death	2 years (2 years from death)	N.D.C.C. § 28-01-18(4)
Written contract	6 years	N.D.C.C. § 28-01-16(1)
Oral contract	6 years	N.D.C.C. § 28-01-16(1)
Property damage	6 years	N.D.C.C. § 28-01-16(3)-(4)
Medical malpractice	2 years	N.D.C.C. § 28-01-18(3)
Defamation (libel/slander)	2 years	N.D.C.C. § 28-01-18(1)
Debt collection	6 years	N.D.C.C. § 28-01-16(1)

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Ohio

Ohio statute of limitations by claim type
Claim type	Period	Statute
Personal injury	2 years	ORC § 2305.10
Wrongful death	2 years (2 years from date of death)	ORC § 2125.02(D)
Written contract	6 years	ORC § 2305.06
Oral contract	4 years	ORC § 2305.07
Property damage	4 years	ORC § 2305.09
Medical malpractice	1 year (1 yr; up to 4-year repose)	ORC § 2305.113
Defamation (libel/slander)	1 year	ORC § 2305.11
Debt collection	6 years (on a written instrument; oral/account 4 yrs (§ 2305.07))	ORC § 2305.06

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Oklahoma

Oklahoma statute of limitations by claim type
Claim type	Period	Statute
Personal injury	2 years	12 Okla. Stat. § 95(3)
Wrongful death	2 years (2 years from death)	12 Okla. Stat. § 1053
Written contract	5 years	12 Okla. Stat. § 95(1)
Oral contract	3 years	12 Okla. Stat. § 95(2)
Property damage	2 years	12 Okla. Stat. § 95(3)
Medical malpractice	2 years (2 yrs from when the injury is known or should have been known)	76 Okla. Stat. § 18
Defamation (libel/slander)	1 year (libel and slander; 1 year)	12 Okla. Stat. § 95(4)
Debt collection	5 years (written; oral/implied 3 yrs (§ 95(2)))	12 Okla. Stat. § 95(1)

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Oregon

Oregon statute of limitations by claim type
Claim type	Period	Statute
Personal injury	2 years	ORS § 12.110
Wrongful death	3 years (3 yrs from the injury causing death (or its discovery))	ORS § 30.020
Written contract	6 years	ORS § 12.080
Oral contract	6 years	ORS § 12.080
Property damage	6 years	ORS § 12.080
Medical malpractice	2 years (2 yrs from discovery; 5-year outer limit)	ORS § 12.110(4)
Defamation (libel/slander)	1 year	ORS § 12.120(2)
Debt collection	6 years	ORS § 12.080

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Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania statute of limitations by claim type
Claim type	Period	Statute
Personal injury	2 years	42 Pa.C.S. § 5524
Wrongful death	2 years (2 years from date of death)	42 Pa.C.S. § 5524
Written contract	4 years	42 Pa.C.S. § 5525
Oral contract	4 years	42 Pa.C.S. § 5525
Property damage	2 years	42 Pa.C.S. § 5524
Medical malpractice	2 years (from injury or discovery; MCARE 7-year repose)	42 Pa.C.S. § 5524
Defamation (libel/slander)	1 year (libel/slander; 1 year)	42 Pa.C.S. § 5523(1)
Debt collection	4 years	42 Pa.C.S. § 5525

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Rhode Island

Rhode Island statute of limitations by claim type
Claim type	Period	Statute
Personal injury	3 years	R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-14(b)
Wrongful death	3 years (3 yrs from death (or discovery of the wrongful act))	R.I. Gen. Laws § 10-7-2
Written contract	10 years	R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-13
Oral contract	10 years	R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-13
Property damage	10 years (falls under the 10-year general civil limitation (no shorter property-specific period))	R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-13(a)
Medical malpractice	3 years (3 yrs; discovery rule applies)	R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-14.1
Defamation (libel/slander)	1 year (slander 1 yr; libel see § 9-1-14.1)	R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-14(a)
Debt collection	10 years	R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-13

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South Carolina

South Carolina statute of limitations by claim type
Claim type	Period	Statute
Personal injury	3 years	S.C. Code Ann. § 15-3-530(5)
Wrongful death	3 years (3 years from death (2 yrs if against a government entity under the SC Tort Claims Act))	S.C. Code Ann. § 15-3-530(6)
Written contract	3 years	S.C. Code Ann. § 15-3-530(1)
Oral contract	3 years	S.C. Code Ann. § 15-3-530(1)
Property damage	3 years	S.C. Code Ann. § 15-3-530
Medical malpractice	3 years (3 yrs from act or discovery; 6-year repose)	S.C. Code Ann. § 15-3-545
Defamation (libel/slander)	2 years	S.C. Code Ann. § 15-3-550
Debt collection	3 years	S.C. Code Ann. § 15-3-530(1)

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South Dakota

South Dakota statute of limitations by claim type
Claim type	Period	Statute
Personal injury	3 years	SDCL § 15-2-14
Wrongful death	3 years (3 years from death)	SDCL § 21-5-3
Written contract	6 years	SDCL § 15-2-13
Oral contract	6 years	SDCL § 15-2-13
Property damage	3 years	SDCL § 15-2-14
Medical malpractice	2 years	SDCL § 15-2-14.1
Defamation (libel/slander)	2 years (libel and slander; 2 years)	SDCL § 15-2-15(3)
Debt collection	6 years	SDCL § 15-2-13

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Tennessee

Tennessee statute of limitations by claim type
Claim type	Period	Statute
Personal injury	1 year	Tenn. Code § 28-3-104
Wrongful death	1 year (1 year (runs from the injury causing death))	Tenn. Code § 28-3-104
Written contract	6 years	Tenn. Code § 28-3-109
Oral contract	6 years	Tenn. Code § 28-3-109
Property damage	3 years	Tenn. Code § 28-3-105
Medical malpractice	1 year (1 yr from act or discovery; 3-year repose)	Tenn. Code § 29-26-116
Defamation (libel/slander)	1 year	Tenn. Code § 28-3-104
Debt collection	6 years	Tenn. Code § 28-3-109

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Texas

Texas statute of limitations by claim type
Claim type	Period	Statute
Personal injury	2 years	CPRC § 16.003
Wrongful death	2 years (accrues on the death of the injured person)	CPRC § 16.003(b)
Written contract	4 years	CPRC § 16.051
Oral contract	4 years	CPRC § 16.051 (residual)
Property damage	2 years	CPRC § 16.003
Medical malpractice	2 years (from the breach or completion of treatment; 10-year statute of repose)	CPRC § 74.251
Defamation (libel/slander)	1 year	CPRC § 16.002
Debt collection	4 years	CPRC § 16.004 (debt)

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Utah

Utah statute of limitations by claim type
Claim type	Period	Statute
Personal injury	4 years	Utah Code § 78B-2-307
Wrongful death	2 years (2 years from death)	Utah Code § 78B-2-304
Written contract	6 years	Utah Code § 78B-2-309
Oral contract	4 years	Utah Code § 78B-2-307
Property damage	3 years (injury to / taking of personal property)	Utah Code § 78B-2-305
Medical malpractice	2 years (2 yrs from discovery; 4-year repose)	Utah Code § 78B-3-404
Defamation (libel/slander)	1 year	Utah Code § 78B-2-302
Debt collection	6 years	Utah Code § 78B-2-309

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Vermont

Vermont statute of limitations by claim type
Claim type	Period	Statute
Personal injury	3 years	12 V.S.A. § 512
Wrongful death	2 years (2 years from death)	14 V.S.A. § 1492(a)
Written contract	6 years	12 V.S.A. § 511
Oral contract	6 years	12 V.S.A. § 511
Property damage	3 years	12 V.S.A. § 512
Medical malpractice	3 years (3 yrs from the act or 2 yrs from discovery; 7-year repose)	12 V.S.A. § 521
Defamation (libel/slander)	3 years (slander and libel)	12 V.S.A. § 512(3)
Debt collection	6 years	12 V.S.A. § 511

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Virginia

Virginia statute of limitations by claim type
Claim type	Period	Statute
Personal injury	2 years	Va. Code § 8.01-243(A)
Wrongful death	2 years (2 years from date of death)	Va. Code § 8.01-244(B)
Written contract	5 years (signed writing)	Va. Code § 8.01-246(2)
Oral contract	3 years (unwritten / unsigned)	Va. Code § 8.01-246(4)
Property damage	5 years	Va. Code § 8.01-243(B)
Medical malpractice	2 years (2 yrs; limited discovery extensions (§ 8.01-243(C)))	Va. Code § 8.01-243(A)
Defamation (libel/slander)	1 year	Va. Code § 8.01-247.1
Debt collection	5 years (written; unwritten 3 yrs)	Va. Code § 8.01-246(2)

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Washington

Washington statute of limitations by claim type
Claim type	Period	Statute
Personal injury	3 years	RCW 4.16.080
Wrongful death	3 years (3-year limit (RCW 4.20.010 action), per RCW 4.16.080(2))	RCW 4.16.080(2)
Written contract	6 years	RCW 4.16.040
Oral contract	3 years	RCW 4.16.080
Property damage	3 years	RCW 4.16.080
Medical malpractice	3 years (3 years from act, or 1 year from discovery; 8-year repose)	RCW 4.16.350
Defamation (libel/slander)	2 years	RCW 4.16.100
Debt collection	6 years (written agreement; open account 3 yrs)	RCW 4.16.040

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West Virginia

West Virginia statute of limitations by claim type
Claim type	Period	Statute
Personal injury	2 years	W. Va. Code § 55-2-12(b)
Wrongful death	2 years (2 years from death)	W. Va. Code § 55-7-6(d)
Written contract	10 years (signed writing; any other contract 5 yrs)	W. Va. Code § 55-2-6
Oral contract	5 years	W. Va. Code § 55-2-6
Property damage	2 years	W. Va. Code § 55-2-12(a)
Medical malpractice	2 years (2 yrs from injury or discovery; 10-year repose)	W. Va. Code § 55-7B-4
Defamation (libel/slander)	1 year	W. Va. Code § 55-2-12(c)
Debt collection	10 years (signed writing; oral 5 yrs)	W. Va. Code § 55-2-6

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Wisconsin

Wisconsin statute of limitations by claim type
Claim type	Period	Statute
Personal injury	3 years	Wis. Stat. § 893.54
Wrongful death	3 years (3 yrs; but 2 yrs if death arose from a motor-vehicle accident)	Wis. Stat. § 893.54
Written contract	6 years	Wis. Stat. § 893.43
Oral contract	6 years	Wis. Stat. § 893.43
Property damage	6 years	Wis. Stat. § 893.52
Medical malpractice	3 years (3 yrs, or 1 yr from discovery; 5-year repose)	Wis. Stat. § 893.55
Defamation (libel/slander)	3 years	Wis. Stat. § 893.57
Debt collection	6 years	Wis. Stat. § 893.43

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Wyoming

Wyoming statute of limitations by claim type
Claim type	Period	Statute
Personal injury	4 years	Wyo. Stat. § 1-3-105(a)(iv)
Wrongful death	2 years (2 years after the death)	Wyo. Stat. § 1-38-102(d)
Written contract	10 years	Wyo. Stat. § 1-3-105(a)(i)
Oral contract	8 years	Wyo. Stat. § 1-3-105(a)(ii)
Property damage	4 years	Wyo. Stat. § 1-3-105(a)(iv)
Medical malpractice	2 years (2 yrs for acts in rendering professional services; limited discovery extensions)	Wyo. Stat. § 1-3-107
Defamation (libel/slander)	1 year	Wyo. Stat. § 1-3-105(a)(v)
Debt collection	10 years	Wyo. Stat. § 1-3-105(a)(i)

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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. Build any document with FormsPal →

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?

It's the legal deadline for starting a lawsuit. The clock generally starts when the claim accrues, often the injury or breach date, or when the harm reasonably should have been discovered. Once it expires, the claim is usually barred.

What happens if the statute of limitations runs out?

If you file after it expires, the defendant can move to dismiss and the court will normally bar the claim regardless of its merits. Some periods can be paused (tolled), for example while the plaintiff is a minor or the defendant has left the state.

Does the statute of limitations on debt restart?

In many states, making a payment or acknowledging the debt in writing can restart or extend the clock. Check your state's rule (and the cited statute) before doing either on an old debt.

What crimes have no statute of limitations?

In most states murder has none, and many states have eliminated or extended limitations for serious offenses such as certain sexual offenses against children. Criminal limitations are separate from the civil periods in this lookup.

Is this legal advice?

No. It provides general informational estimates with a link to the official statute. Periods are affected by discovery rules, tolling, and statutes of repose, and they change. Always confirm with the cited statute or a licensed attorney.

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