Statute of Limitations in Kentucky
How long do you have to file a lawsuit in Kentucky? In Kentucky, the statute of limitations is 1 year for personal injury, 15 years for written contracts and 1 year for defamation; most other civil claims fall between 1 and 15 years. Every period below is linked to its official Kentucky 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 Kentucky attorney.
Kentucky statute of limitations by claim type
Every Kentucky civil deadline below is quoted from the statute and linked to its official text. Verified Jun 13, 2026 against the official Kentucky statutes (codes.findlaw.com).
| Claim type | Limitation period | Statute | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal injury | 1 year | Ky. Rev. Stat. § 413.140 | |
| Wrongful death | 1 year | Ky. Rev. Stat. § 413.140(1)(a) | 1 yr; runs from appointment of the personal representative (KRS 413.180), capped at 2 yrs from death |
| Written contract | 15 years | Ky. Rev. Stat. § 413.090 | |
| Oral contract | 5 years | Ky. Rev. Stat. § 413.120 | |
| Property damage | 2 years | Ky. Rev. Stat. § 413.125 | injury to personal property; 2 years |
| Medical malpractice | 1 year | Ky. Rev. Stat. § 413.140(1)(e) | 1 yr from act or discovery; 5-year repose (§ 413.140(2)) |
| Defamation (libel/slander) | 1 year | Ky. Rev. Stat. § 413.140 | |
| Debt collection | 15 years | Ky. Rev. Stat. § 413.090 | written; oral/unwritten 5 yrs (§ 413.120) |
Enter a date of incident in the lookup above to estimate your exact filing deadline and add a reminder to your calendar.
Kentucky deadlines at a glance
In Kentucky, civil filing deadlines run from 1 year (personal injury, wrongful death, medical malpractice and defamation) to 15 years (written contract and debt collection). Its 1 year personal-injury deadline is shorter than in most states.
Several Kentucky claims carry specific accrual, discovery, or repose rules worth noting:
- 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)).
- 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)).
- Debt collection (15 years): written; oral/unwritten 5 yrs (§ 413.120) (Ky. Rev. Stat. § 413.090).
New to limitation periods? Read what a statute of limitations is: how the clock accrues, the discovery rule, and tolling.
The most-searched Kentucky deadlines
- Personal injury & car accidents: 1 year. Injury claims must be filed within 1 year of the incident (Ky. Rev. Stat. § 413.140).
- Debt: 15 years. Most debt is time-barred after 15 years (Ky. Rev. Stat. § 413.090). 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 (Ky. Rev. Stat. § 413.140).
- Contracts: 15 years. Written agreements (Ky. Rev. Stat. § 413.090).
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 Kentucky deadline calculator →Kentucky statute of limitations FAQ
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