Statute of Limitations in Florida
How long do you have to file a lawsuit in Florida? In Florida, the statute of limitations is 2 years for personal injury, 5 years for written contracts and 2 years for defamation; most other civil claims fall between 2 and 5 years. Every period below is linked to its official Florida 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 Florida attorney.
Florida statute of limitations by claim type
Every Florida civil deadline below is quoted from the statute and linked to its official text. Verified 2026-06-12 against the official Florida statutes (flsenate.gov).
| Claim type | Limitation period | Statute | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal injury | 2 years | Fla. Stat. § 95.11(5)(a) | negligence; 2-year period per 2023 reform (HB 837) |
| 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 | Fla. Stat. § 95.11(5)(c) | 2 years from discovery; 4-year outer limit |
| Defamation (libel/slander) | 2 years | Fla. Stat. § 95.11(5)(h) | |
| Debt collection | 5 years | Fla. Stat. § 95.11(2)(b) | on a written instrument; open accounts 4 yrs |
Enter a date of incident in the lookup above to estimate your exact filing deadline and add a reminder to your calendar.
Florida deadlines at a glance
In Florida, civil filing deadlines run from 2 years (personal injury, wrongful death, medical malpractice and defamation) to 5 years (written contract and debt collection). Its 2 years personal-injury deadline is in line with most states.
Several Florida claims carry specific accrual, discovery, or repose rules worth noting:
- Personal injury (2 years): negligence; 2-year period per 2023 reform (HB 837) (Fla. Stat. § 95.11(5)(a)).
- Medical malpractice (2 years): 2 years from discovery; 4-year outer limit (Fla. Stat. § 95.11(5)(c)).
- Debt collection (5 years): on a written instrument; open accounts 4 yrs (Fla. Stat. § 95.11(2)(b)).
New to limitation periods? Read what a statute of limitations is: how the clock accrues, the discovery rule, and tolling.
The most-searched Florida deadlines
- Personal injury & car accidents: 2 years. Injury claims must be filed within 2 years of the incident (Fla. Stat. § 95.11(5)(a)).
- Debt: 5 years. Most debt is time-barred after 5 years (Fla. Stat. § 95.11(2)(b)). 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 (Fla. Stat. § 95.11(5)(h)).
- Contracts: 5 years. Written agreements (Fla. Stat. § 95.11(2)(b)).
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 Florida deadline calculator →Florida statute of limitations FAQ
How long do you have to file a lawsuit in Florida?
What is the statute of limitations in Florida?
What is the statute of limitations for a car accident in Florida?
What is the statute of limitations on debt in Florida?
What is the statute of limitations for medical malpractice in Florida?
Filing in Florida? Get the document.
FormsPal has 16,000+ free, ready-to-fill legal templates: complaints, answers, demand letters, and more.