Statute of Limitations in Arkansas
How long do you have to file a lawsuit in Arkansas? In Arkansas, the statute of limitations is 3 years for personal injury, 5 years for written contracts and 1 year for defamation; most other civil claims fall between 1 and 5 years. Every period below is linked to its official Arkansas 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 Arkansas attorney.
Arkansas statute of limitations by claim type
Every Arkansas civil deadline below is quoted from the statute and linked to its official text. Verified Jun 13, 2026 against the official Arkansas statutes (codes.findlaw.com).
| Claim type | Limitation period | Statute | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal injury | 3 years | Ark. Code § 16-56-105 | injury to the person; 3 years |
| Wrongful death | 3 years | Ark. Code § 16-62-102 | 3 years after the death |
| 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 | Ark. Code § 16-114-203 | 2 yrs from the act; limited discovery for foreign objects |
| Defamation (libel/slander) | 1 year | Ark. Code § 16-56-104 | slander; 1 year (libel is 3 yrs under § 16-56-105) |
| Debt collection | 5 years | Ark. Code § 16-56-111 |
Enter a date of incident in the lookup above to estimate your exact filing deadline and add a reminder to your calendar.
Arkansas deadlines at a glance
In Arkansas, civil filing deadlines run from 1 year (defamation) to 5 years (written contract and debt collection). Its 3 years personal-injury deadline is longer than in most states.
Several Arkansas claims carry specific accrual, discovery, or repose rules worth noting:
- 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).
- Medical malpractice (2 years): 2 yrs from the act; limited discovery for foreign objects (Ark. Code § 16-114-203).
- Defamation (1 year): slander; 1 year (libel is 3 yrs under § 16-56-105) (Ark. Code § 16-56-104).
New to limitation periods? Read what a statute of limitations is: how the clock accrues, the discovery rule, and tolling.
The most-searched Arkansas deadlines
- Personal injury & car accidents: 3 years. Injury claims must be filed within 3 years of the incident (Ark. Code § 16-56-105).
- Debt: 5 years. Most debt is time-barred after 5 years (Ark. Code § 16-56-111). 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 (Ark. Code § 16-56-104).
- Contracts: 5 years. Written agreements (Ark. Code § 16-56-111).
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 Arkansas deadline calculator →Arkansas statute of limitations FAQ
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