Statute of Limitations in Washington

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

3 yrs injury 6 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 Washington attorney.

Washington statute of limitations by claim type

Every Washington civil deadline below is quoted from the statute and linked to its official text. Verified 2026-06-12 against the official Washington statutes (app.leg.wa.gov).

Washington statute of limitations by claim type
Claim type	Limitation period	Statute	Notes
Personal injury	3 years	RCW 4.16.080
Wrongful death	3 years	RCW 4.16.080(2)	3-year limit (RCW 4.20.010 action), per RCW 4.16.080(2)
Written contract	6 years	RCW 4.16.040
Oral contract	3 years	RCW 4.16.080
Property damage	3 years	RCW 4.16.080
Medical malpractice	3 years	RCW 4.16.350	3 years from act, or 1 year from discovery; 8-year repose
Defamation (libel/slander)	2 years	RCW 4.16.100
Debt collection	6 years	RCW 4.16.040	written agreement; open account 3 yrs

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

Washington deadlines at a glance

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

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

Wrongful death (3 years): 3-year limit (RCW 4.20.010 action), per RCW 4.16.080(2) (RCW 4.16.080(2)).
Medical malpractice (3 years): 3 years from act, or 1 year from discovery; 8-year repose (RCW 4.16.350).
Debt collection (6 years): written agreement; open account 3 yrs (RCW 4.16.040).

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

The most-searched Washington deadlines

Personal injury & car accidents: 3 years. Injury claims must be filed within 3 years of the incident (RCW 4.16.080).
Debt: 6 years. Most debt is time-barred after 6 years (RCW 4.16.040). 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 (RCW 4.16.100).
Contracts: 6 years. Written agreements (RCW 4.16.040).

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: Idaho · Oregon · California · Texas · Florida · New York

Washington statute of limitations FAQ

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

It depends on the claim. In Washington, personal injury is 3 years (RCW 4.16.080); written contract is 6 years (RCW 4.16.040); defamation is 2 years (RCW 4.16.100). See the table above for every claim type, each linked to its official statute.

What is the statute of limitations in Washington?

A statute of limitations is the legal deadline to start a lawsuit, and in Washington it varies by claim type: 3 years for personal injury, 6 years for written contracts and 2 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 Washington statute above.

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

A car-accident injury claim is a personal injury claim, so the Washington deadline is 3 years from the date of the accident under RCW 4.16.080.

What is the statute of limitations on debt in Washington?

In Washington, most debt has a statute of limitations of 6 years under RCW 4.16.040. 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 Washington?

3 years under RCW 4.16.350 (3 years from act, or 1 year from discovery; 8-year repose).

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