Statute of Limitations in Texas

How long do you have to file a lawsuit in Texas? In Texas, the statute of limitations is 2 years for personal injury, 4 years for written contracts and 1 year for defamation; most other civil claims fall between 1 and 4 years. Every period below is linked to its official Texas statute.

2 yrs injury 4 yrs contracts 1 yr 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 Texas attorney.

Texas statute of limitations by claim type

Every Texas civil deadline below is quoted from the statute and linked to its official text. Verified 2026-06-12 against the official Texas statutes (texas.public.law).

Texas statute of limitations by claim type
Claim type	Limitation period	Statute	Notes
Personal injury	2 years	CPRC § 16.003
Wrongful death	2 years	CPRC § 16.003(b)	accrues on the death of the injured person
Written contract	4 years	CPRC § 16.051
Oral contract	4 years	CPRC § 16.051 (residual)
Property damage	2 years	CPRC § 16.003
Medical malpractice	2 years	CPRC § 74.251	from the breach or completion of treatment; 10-year statute of repose
Defamation (libel/slander)	1 year	CPRC § 16.002
Debt collection	4 years	CPRC § 16.004 (debt)

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

Texas deadlines at a glance

In Texas, civil filing deadlines run from 1 year (defamation) to 4 years (written contract, oral contract and debt collection). Its 2 years personal-injury deadline is in line with most states.

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

Wrongful death (2 years): accrues on the death of the injured person (CPRC § 16.003(b)).
Medical malpractice (2 years): from the breach or completion of treatment; 10-year statute of repose (CPRC § 74.251).

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

The most-searched Texas deadlines

Personal injury & car accidents: 2 years. Injury claims must be filed within 2 years of the incident (CPRC § 16.003).
Debt: 4 years. Most debt is time-barred after 4 years (CPRC § 16.004 (debt)). 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 (CPRC § 16.002).
Contracts: 4 years. Written agreements (CPRC § 16.051).

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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Nearby states: Arkansas · Louisiana · New Mexico · Oklahoma · California · Florida

Texas statute of limitations FAQ

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

It depends on the claim. In Texas, personal injury is 2 years (CPRC § 16.003); written contract is 4 years (CPRC § 16.051); defamation is 1 year (CPRC § 16.002). See the table above for every claim type, each linked to its official statute.

What is the statute of limitations in Texas?

A statute of limitations is the legal deadline to start a lawsuit, and in Texas it varies by claim type: 2 years for personal injury, 4 years for written contracts and 1 year for defamation, with most other civil claims between 1 and 4 years. The clock generally starts when the claim accrues. Every period is linked to its official Texas statute above.

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

A car-accident injury claim is a personal injury claim, so the Texas deadline is 2 years from the date of the accident under CPRC § 16.003.

What is the statute of limitations on debt in Texas?

In Texas, most debt has a statute of limitations of 4 years under CPRC § 16.004 (debt). 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 Texas?

2 years under CPRC § 74.251 (from the breach or completion of treatment; 10-year statute of repose).

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