Statute of Limitations in Vermont

How long do you have to file a lawsuit in Vermont? In Vermont, the statute of limitations is 3 years for personal injury, 6 years for written contracts and 3 years for defamation; most other civil claims fall between 2 and 6 years. Every period below is linked to its official Vermont statute.

3 yrs injury 6 yrs contracts 3 yrs defamation Official citations Verified 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 Vermont attorney.

Vermont statute of limitations by claim type

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

Vermont statute of limitations by claim type
Claim type	Limitation period	Statute	Notes
Personal injury	3 years	12 V.S.A. § 512
Wrongful death	2 years	14 V.S.A. § 1492(a)	2 years from death
Written contract	6 years	12 V.S.A. § 511
Oral contract	6 years	12 V.S.A. § 511
Property damage	3 years	12 V.S.A. § 512
Medical malpractice	3 years	12 V.S.A. § 521	3 yrs from the act or 2 yrs from discovery; 7-year repose
Defamation (libel/slander)	3 years	12 V.S.A. § 512(3)	slander and libel
Debt collection	6 years	12 V.S.A. § 511

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

Vermont deadlines at a glance

In Vermont, civil filing deadlines run from 2 years (wrongful death) to 6 years (written contract, oral contract and debt collection). Its 3 years personal-injury deadline is longer than in most states.

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

Wrongful death (2 years): 2 years from death (14 V.S.A. § 1492(a)).
Medical malpractice (3 years): 3 yrs from the act or 2 yrs from discovery; 7-year repose (12 V.S.A. § 521).
Defamation (3 years): slander and libel (12 V.S.A. § 512(3)).

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

The most-searched Vermont deadlines

Personal injury & car accidents: 3 years. Injury claims must be filed within 3 years of the incident (12 V.S.A. § 512).
Debt: 6 years. Most debt is time-barred after 6 years (12 V.S.A. § 511). 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: 3 years. Libel and slander (12 V.S.A. § 512(3)).
Contracts: 6 years. Written agreements (12 V.S.A. § 511).

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 Vermont 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.

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Nearby states: Massachusetts · New Hampshire · New York · California · Texas · Florida

Vermont statute of limitations FAQ

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

It depends on the claim. In Vermont, personal injury is 3 years (12 V.S.A. § 512); written contract is 6 years (12 V.S.A. § 511); defamation is 3 years (12 V.S.A. § 512(3)). See the table above for every claim type, each linked to its official statute.

What is the statute of limitations in Vermont?

A statute of limitations is the legal deadline to start a lawsuit, and in Vermont it varies by claim type: 3 years for personal injury, 6 years for written contracts and 3 years for defamation, with most other civil claims between 2 and 6 years. The clock generally starts when the claim accrues. Every period is linked to its official Vermont statute above.

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

A car-accident injury claim is a personal injury claim, so the Vermont deadline is 3 years from the date of the accident under 12 V.S.A. § 512.

What is the statute of limitations on debt in Vermont?

In Vermont, most debt has a statute of limitations of 6 years under 12 V.S.A. § 511. 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 Vermont?

3 years under 12 V.S.A. § 521 (3 yrs from the act or 2 yrs from discovery; 7-year repose).

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