Statute of Limitations in Missouri

How long do you have to file a lawsuit in Missouri? In Missouri, the statute of limitations is 5 years for personal injury, 10 years for written contracts and 2 years for defamation; most other civil claims fall between 2 and 10 years. Every period below is linked to its official Missouri statute.

5 yrs injury 10 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 Missouri attorney.

Missouri statute of limitations by claim type

Every Missouri civil deadline below is quoted from the statute and linked to its official text. Verified 2026-06-12 against the official Missouri statutes (revisor.mo.gov).

Missouri statute of limitations by claim type
Claim type	Limitation period	Statute	Notes
Personal injury	5 years	RSMo § 516.120
Wrongful death	3 years	RSMo § 537.100	3 years from death
Written contract	10 years	RSMo § 516.110
Oral contract	5 years	RSMo § 516.120
Property damage	5 years	RSMo § 516.120
Medical malpractice	2 years	RSMo § 516.105	2 yrs from the act; 10-year outer repose
Defamation (libel/slander)	2 years	RSMo § 516.140
Debt collection	10 years	RSMo § 516.110	on a writing for payment of money; oral/open account 5 yrs (§ 516.120)

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

Missouri deadlines at a glance

In Missouri, civil filing deadlines run from 2 years (medical malpractice and defamation) to 10 years (written contract and debt collection). Its 5 years personal-injury deadline is longer than in most states.

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

Wrongful death (3 years): 3 years from death (RSMo § 537.100).
Medical malpractice (2 years): 2 yrs from the act; 10-year outer repose (RSMo § 516.105).
Debt collection (10 years): on a writing for payment of money; oral/open account 5 yrs (§ 516.120) (RSMo § 516.110).

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

The most-searched Missouri deadlines

Personal injury & car accidents: 5 years. Injury claims must be filed within 5 years of the incident (RSMo § 516.120).
Debt: 10 years. Most debt is time-barred after 10 years (RSMo § 516.110). 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 (RSMo § 516.140).
Contracts: 10 years. Written agreements (RSMo § 516.110).

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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Missouri statute of limitations FAQ

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

It depends on the claim. In Missouri, personal injury is 5 years (RSMo § 516.120); written contract is 10 years (RSMo § 516.110); defamation is 2 years (RSMo § 516.140). See the table above for every claim type, each linked to its official statute.

What is the statute of limitations in Missouri?

A statute of limitations is the legal deadline to start a lawsuit, and in Missouri it varies by claim type: 5 years for personal injury, 10 years for written contracts and 2 years for defamation, with most other civil claims between 2 and 10 years. The clock generally starts when the claim accrues. Every period is linked to its official Missouri statute above.

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

A car-accident injury claim is a personal injury claim, so the Missouri deadline is 5 years from the date of the accident under RSMo § 516.120.

What is the statute of limitations on debt in Missouri?

In Missouri, most debt has a statute of limitations of 10 years under RSMo § 516.110. 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 Missouri?

2 years under RSMo § 516.105 (2 yrs from the act; 10-year outer repose).

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