Statute of Limitations in Alabama

How long do you have to file a lawsuit in Alabama? In Alabama, the statute of limitations is 2 years for personal injury, 6 years for written contracts and 2 years for defamation; most other civil claims fall between 2 and 6 years. Every period below is linked to its official Alabama statute.

2 yrs injury 6 yrs contracts 2 yrs defamation Official citations Verified Jun 12, 2026

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 a Alabama attorney.

Alabama statute of limitations by claim type

Every Alabama civil deadline below is quoted from the statute and linked to its official text. Verified 2026-06-12 against the official Alabama statutes (codes.findlaw.com).

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

Enter a date of incident in the lookup above to estimate your exact filing deadline and add a reminder to your calendar.

Alabama deadlines at a glance

In Alabama, civil filing deadlines run from 2 years (personal injury, wrongful death, property damage, medical malpractice and defamation) to 6 years (written contract and oral contract). Its 2 years personal-injury deadline is in line with most states.

Several Alabama claims carry specific accrual, discovery, or repose rules worth noting:

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 (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).

New to limitation periods? Read what a statute of limitations is: how the clock accrues, the discovery rule, and tolling.

The most-searched Alabama deadlines

Personal injury & car accidents: 2 years. Injury claims must be filed within 2 years of the incident (Ala. Code § 6-2-38).
Debt: 3 years. Most debt is time-barred after 3 years (Ala. Code § 6-2-37). A payment or written acknowledgment can restart the clock, so respond to a collector with a validation or dispute letter. Find a letter template →
Defamation: 2 years. Libel and slander (Ala. Code § 6-2-38(k)).
Contracts: 6 years. Written agreements (Ala. Code § 6-2-34(9)).

Count the exact filing date

A limitation period gives you the year; the deadline calculator counts the precise date (answer windows, court days, and holidays included) and exports it to your calendar.

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Statute of limitations in other states

Limitation periods differ in every state. Browse the full 50-state lookup, or jump to a nearby state.

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Nearby states: Florida · Georgia · Mississippi · Tennessee · California · Texas

Alabama statute of limitations FAQ

How long do you have to file a lawsuit in Alabama?

It depends on the claim. In Alabama, personal injury is 2 years (Ala. Code § 6-2-38); written contract is 6 years (Ala. Code § 6-2-34(9)); defamation is 2 years (Ala. Code § 6-2-38(k)). See the table above for every claim type, each linked to its official statute.

What is the statute of limitations in Alabama?

A statute of limitations is the legal deadline to start a lawsuit, and in Alabama it varies by claim type: 2 years for personal injury, 6 years for written contracts and 2 years for defamation, with most other civil claims between 2 and 6 years. The clock generally starts when the claim accrues. Every period is linked to its official Alabama statute above.

What is the statute of limitations for a car accident in Alabama?

A car-accident injury claim is a personal injury claim, so the Alabama deadline is 2 years from the date of the accident under Ala. Code § 6-2-38.

What is the statute of limitations on debt in Alabama?

In Alabama, most debt has a statute of limitations of 3 years under Ala. Code § 6-2-37. After it expires the debt is time-barred and a collector generally cannot win a lawsuit to force payment. A payment or written acknowledgment can restart the clock, so be careful on an old debt.

What is the statute of limitations for medical malpractice in Alabama?

2 years under Ala. Code § 6-5-482 (2 yrs; 6-month discovery; 4-year repose).

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