Statute of Limitations in Oklahoma
How long do you have to file a lawsuit in Oklahoma? In Oklahoma, the statute of limitations is 2 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 Oklahoma 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 Oklahoma attorney.
Oklahoma statute of limitations by claim type
Every Oklahoma civil deadline below is quoted from the statute and linked to its official text. Verified 2026-06-12 against the official Oklahoma statutes (law.justia.com).
| Claim type | Limitation period | Statute | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal injury | 2 years | 12 Okla. Stat. § 95(3) | |
| Wrongful death | 2 years | 12 Okla. Stat. § 1053 | 2 years from death |
| Written contract | 5 years | 12 Okla. Stat. § 95(1) | |
| Oral contract | 3 years | 12 Okla. Stat. § 95(2) | |
| Property damage | 2 years | 12 Okla. Stat. § 95(3) | |
| Medical malpractice | 2 years | 76 Okla. Stat. § 18 | 2 yrs from when the injury is known or should have been known |
| Defamation (libel/slander) | 1 year | 12 Okla. Stat. § 95(4) | libel and slander; 1 year |
| Debt collection | 5 years | 12 Okla. Stat. § 95(1) | written; oral/implied 3 yrs (§ 95(2)) |
Enter a date of incident in the lookup above to estimate your exact filing deadline and add a reminder to your calendar.
Oklahoma deadlines at a glance
In Oklahoma, civil filing deadlines run from 1 year (defamation) to 5 years (written contract and debt collection). Its 2 years personal-injury deadline is in line with most states.
Several Oklahoma claims carry specific accrual, discovery, or repose rules worth noting:
- Wrongful death (2 years): 2 years from death (12 Okla. Stat. § 1053).
- Medical malpractice (2 years): 2 yrs from when the injury is known or should have been known (76 Okla. Stat. § 18).
- Defamation (1 year): libel and slander; 1 year (12 Okla. Stat. § 95(4)).
- Debt collection (5 years): written; oral/implied 3 yrs (§ 95(2)) (12 Okla. Stat. § 95(1)).
New to limitation periods? Read what a statute of limitations is: how the clock accrues, the discovery rule, and tolling.
The most-searched Oklahoma deadlines
- Personal injury & car accidents: 2 years. Injury claims must be filed within 2 years of the incident (12 Okla. Stat. § 95(3)).
- Debt: 5 years. Most debt is time-barred after 5 years (12 Okla. Stat. § 95(1)). 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 (12 Okla. Stat. § 95(4)).
- Contracts: 5 years. Written agreements (12 Okla. Stat. § 95(1)).
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 Oklahoma deadline calculator →Oklahoma statute of limitations FAQ
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