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Statute of Limitations in New York

How long do you have to file a lawsuit in New York? In New York, the statute of limitations is 3 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 New York statute.

3 yrs injury 6 yrs contracts 1 yr defamation Official citations Verified Jun 13, 2026How we keep this currentEvery limitation period is checked against its official statute and dated. We re-verify against the primary sources and update when the law changes.Last full review: Jun 13, 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 New York attorney.

New York statute of limitations by claim type

Every New York civil deadline below is quoted from the statute and linked to its official text. Verified Jun 13, 2026 against the official New York statutes (nysenate.gov).

New York statute of limitations by claim type
Claim typeLimitation periodStatuteNotes
Personal injury3 yearsCPLR § 214(5)
Wrongful death2 yearsEPTL § 5-4.12 years from date of death
Written contract6 yearsCPLR § 213(2)
Oral contract6 yearsCPLR § 213(2)
Property damage3 yearsCPLR § 214(4)
Medical malpractice2.5 yearsCPLR § 214-a2 years 6 months
Defamation (libel/slander)1 yearCPLR § 215(3)
Debt collection6 yearsCPLR § 213(2)

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

New York deadlines at a glance

In New York, civil filing deadlines run from 1 year (defamation) to 6 years (written contract, oral contract and debt collection). Its 3 years personal-injury deadline is longer than in most states.

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

  • Wrongful death (2 years): 2 years from date of death (EPTL § 5-4.1).
  • Medical malpractice (2.5 years): 2 years 6 months (CPLR § 214-a).

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

The most-searched New York deadlines

  • Personal injury & car accidents: 3 years. Injury claims must be filed within 3 years of the incident (CPLR § 214(5)).
  • Debt: 6 years. Most debt is time-barred after 6 years (CPLR § 213(2)). 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 (CPLR § 215(3)).
  • Contracts: 6 years. Written agreements (CPLR § 213(2)).

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 New York 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.

← All 50 states & DC

Nearby states: Connecticut · Massachusetts · New Jersey · Pennsylvania · Vermont · California

New York statute of limitations FAQ

How long do you have to file a lawsuit in New York?
It depends on the claim. In New York, personal injury is 3 years (CPLR § 214(5)); written contract is 6 years (CPLR § 213(2)); defamation is 1 year (CPLR § 215(3)). See the table above for every claim type, each linked to its official statute.
What is the statute of limitations in New York?
A statute of limitations is the legal deadline to start a lawsuit, and in New York it varies by claim type: 3 years for personal injury, 6 years for written contracts and 1 year for defamation, with most other civil claims between 1 and 6 years. The clock generally starts when the claim accrues. Every period is linked to its official New York statute above.
What is the statute of limitations for a car accident in New York?
A car-accident injury claim is a personal injury claim, so the New York deadline is 3 years from the date of the accident under CPLR § 214(5).
What is the statute of limitations on debt in New York?
In New York, most debt has a statute of limitations of 6 years under CPLR § 213(2). 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 New York?
2.5 years under CPLR § 214-a (2 years 6 months).

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