Statute of Limitations in Arizona
How long do you have to file a lawsuit in Arizona? In Arizona, the statute of limitations is 2 years for personal injury, 6 years for written contracts and 1 year for defamation; most other civil claims fall between 1 and 6 years. Every period below is linked to its official Arizona statute.
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 Arizona attorney.
Arizona statute of limitations by claim type
Every Arizona civil deadline below is quoted from the statute and linked to its official text. Verified Jun 13, 2026 against the official Arizona statutes (azleg.gov).
| Claim type | Limitation period | Statute | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal injury | 2 years | A.R.S. § 12-542 | |
| Wrongful death | 2 years | A.R.S. § 12-542 | 2 years; § 12-542 covers personal injury and medical malpractice causing death |
| 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 | A.R.S. § 12-542 | 2 yrs; § 12-542(1) expressly includes medical malpractice |
| Defamation (libel/slander) | 1 year | A.R.S. § 12-541 | |
| Debt collection | 6 years | A.R.S. § 12-548 | written; open account 3 yrs (§ 12-543) |
Enter a date of incident in the lookup above to estimate your exact filing deadline and add a reminder to your calendar.
Arizona deadlines at a glance
In Arizona, civil filing deadlines run from 1 year (defamation) to 6 years (written contract and debt collection). Its 2 years personal-injury deadline is in line with most states.
Several Arizona claims carry specific accrual, discovery, or repose rules worth noting:
- Wrongful death (2 years): 2 years; § 12-542 covers personal injury and medical malpractice causing death (A.R.S. § 12-542).
- Medical malpractice (2 years): 2 yrs; § 12-542(1) expressly includes medical malpractice (A.R.S. § 12-542).
- Debt collection (6 years): written; open account 3 yrs (§ 12-543) (A.R.S. § 12-548).
New to limitation periods? Read what a statute of limitations is: how the clock accrues, the discovery rule, and tolling.
The most-searched Arizona deadlines
- Personal injury & car accidents: 2 years. Injury claims must be filed within 2 years of the incident (A.R.S. § 12-542).
- Debt: 6 years. Most debt is time-barred after 6 years (A.R.S. § 12-548). 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: 1 year. Libel and slander (A.R.S. § 12-541).
- Contracts: 6 years. Written agreements (A.R.S. § 12-548).
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.
Open the Arizona deadline calculator →Statute of limitations in other states
Limitation periods differ in every state. Browse the full 50-state lookup, or jump to a nearby state.
Nearby states: California · Colorado · New Mexico · Nevada · Utah · Texas
Arizona statute of limitations FAQ
How long do you have to file a lawsuit in Arizona?
What is the statute of limitations in Arizona?
What is the statute of limitations for a car accident in Arizona?
What is the statute of limitations on debt in Arizona?
What is the statute of limitations for medical malpractice in Arizona?
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