Statute of Limitations by State 2025 | 50-State Comparison

Understanding Statute of Limitations

The statute of limitations sets the maximum time after an event within which legal proceedings may be initiated. Once this deadline passes, you generally lose the right to sue forever, regardless of how strong your case might be. These time limits vary significantly by state and type of claim, making it crucial to understand your specific deadline.

⚠️ Critical Warning

Never wait until close to the deadline to file a lawsuit. Calculating the exact deadline can be complex due to various exceptions and tolling provisions. Missing the deadline by even one day can be fatal to your case. Always consult with an attorney well before any potential deadline.

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Quick Reference Table

State	Personal Injury	Medical Malpractice	Property Damage	Written Contract	Oral Contract	Wrongful Death
Alabama	2 years	2 years	6 years	6 years	6 years	2 years
Alaska	2 years	2 years	6 years	3 years	3 years	2 years
Arizona	2 years	2 years	2 years	6 years	3 years	2 years
Arkansas	3 years	2 years	3 years	5 years	3 years	3 years
California	2 years	3 years/1 year	3 years	4 years	2 years	2 years
Colorado	2 years	2 years	2 years	3 years	3 years	2 years
Connecticut	2 years	2 years	2 years	6 years	3 years	2 years
Delaware	2 years	2 years	2 years	3 years	3 years	2 years
Florida	2 years	2 years	4 years	5 years	4 years	2 years
Georgia	2 years	2 years	4 years	6 years	4 years	2 years
Hawaii	2 years	2 years	2 years	6 years	6 years	2 years
Idaho	2 years	2 years	3 years	5 years	4 years	2 years
Illinois	2 years	2 years	5 years	10 years	5 years	2 years
Indiana	2 years	2 years	2 years	10 years	6 years	2 years
Iowa	2 years	2 years	5 years	10 years	5 years	2 years
Kansas	2 years	2 years	2 years	5 years	3 years	2 years
Kentucky	1 year	1 year	2 years	10 years	5 years	1 year
Louisiana	1 year	1 year	1 year	10 years	10 years	1 year
Maine	6 years	3 years	6 years	6 years	6 years	2 years
Maryland	3 years	3 years	3 years	3 years	3 years	3 years
Massachusetts	3 years	3 years	3 years	6 years	6 years	3 years
Michigan	3 years	2 years	3 years	6 years	6 years	3 years
Minnesota	2 years	2 years	6 years	6 years	6 years	3 years
Mississippi	3 years	2 years	3 years	3 years	3 years	3 years
Missouri	5 years	2 years	5 years	10 years	5 years	3 years
Montana	3 years	3 years	2 years	8 years	5 years	3 years
Nebraska	4 years	2 years	4 years	5 years	4 years	2 years
Nevada	2 years	3 years	3 years	6 years	4 years	2 years
New Hampshire	3 years	2 years	3 years	3 years	3 years	3 years
New Jersey	2 years	2 years	6 years	6 years	6 years	2 years
New Mexico	3 years	3 years	4 years	6 years	4 years	3 years
New York	3 years	2.5 years	3 years	6 years	6 years	2 years
North Carolina	3 years	3 years	3 years	3 years	3 years	2 years
North Dakota	6 years	2 years	6 years	6 years	6 years	2 years
Ohio	2 years	1 year	2 years	8 years	6 years	2 years
Oklahoma	2 years	2 years	2 years	5 years	3 years	2 years
Oregon	2 years	2 years	6 years	6 years	6 years	3 years
Pennsylvania	2 years	2 years	2 years	4 years	4 years	2 years
Rhode Island	3 years	3 years	10 years	10 years	10 years	3 years
South Carolina	3 years	3 years	3 years	3 years	3 years	3 years
South Dakota	3 years	2 years	6 years	6 years	6 years	3 years
Tennessee	1 year	1 year	3 years	6 years	6 years	1 year
Texas	2 years	2 years	2 years	4 years	4 years	2 years
Utah	4 years	2 years	3 years	6 years	4 years	2 years
Vermont	3 years	3 years	3 years	6 years	6 years	2 years
Virginia	2 years	2 years	5 years	5 years	3 years	2 years
Washington	3 years	3 years	3 years	6 years	3 years	3 years
West Virginia	2 years	2 years	2 years	10 years	5 years	2 years
Wisconsin	3 years	3 years	6 years	6 years	6 years	3 years
Wyoming	4 years	2 years	4 years	10 years	8 years	2 years

State-by-State Details

Alabama

Personal Injury 2 years (Ala. Code § 6-2-38)

Medical Malpractice 2 years from discovery, max 4 years (Ala. Code § 6-5-482)

Property Damage 6 years (Ala. Code § 6-2-34)

Contracts 6 years written/oral (Ala. Code § 6-2-34)

Special Notes: Alabama has a strict 4-year statute of repose for medical malpractice. Claims against municipalities require notice within 6 months.

California

Personal Injury 2 years (Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 335.1)

Medical Malpractice 3 years from injury or 1 year from discovery (Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 340.5)

Property Damage 3 years (Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 338)

Contracts 4 years written, 2 years oral

Special Notes: California requires 90-day notice for medical malpractice claims. Government entity claims require filing within 6 months.

Florida

Personal Injury 2 years (Fla. Stat. § 95.11(4))

Medical Malpractice 2 years from discovery, max 4 years

Property Damage 4 years (Fla. Stat. § 95.11(3))

Contracts 5 years written, 4 years oral

Special Notes: Florida recently changed personal injury statute from 4 to 2 years (2023). Pre-suit notice required for medical malpractice.

New York

Personal Injury 3 years (N.Y. C.P.L.R. § 214)

Medical Malpractice 2.5 years (N.Y. C.P.L.R. § 214-a)

Property Damage 3 years (N.Y. C.P.L.R. § 214)

Contracts 6 years (N.Y. C.P.L.R. § 213)

Special Notes: New York has unique 2.5-year period for medical malpractice. Notice of claim required within 90 days for municipal entities.

Texas

Personal Injury 2 years (Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003)

Medical Malpractice 2 years, max 10 years statute of repose

Property Damage 2 years

Contracts 4 years (Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.004)

Special Notes: Texas requires 60-day pre-suit notice for medical malpractice claims. Governmental entities require notice within 6 months.

Important Exceptions and Special Rules

Discovery Rule

Many states apply the "discovery rule" for certain claims, particularly medical malpractice and fraud. This means the statute of limitations doesn't begin until you discover (or reasonably should have discovered) the injury. However, most states also have an absolute deadline called a "statute of repose."

Minors and Incapacity

If the injured party is a minor (under 18), most states toll (pause) the statute of limitations until they reach the age of majority. Similar rules often apply to individuals who are mentally incapacitated.

Defendant's Absence

If the defendant leaves the state after the cause of action accrues, many states toll the statute of limitations during their absence.

Government Claims

Claims against government entities often have much shorter deadlines and require special notice procedures. These can be as short as 30-180 days from the incident.

Continuous Treatment Doctrine

In medical malpractice cases, some states extend the deadline if there's continuous treatment for the same condition by the same provider.

Criminal vs. Civil Cases

This guide covers civil statutes of limitations. Criminal cases have different deadlines, with serious crimes like murder typically having no statute of limitations.

Calculate Your Specific Deadline

Use our interactive calculator to determine your exact statute of limitations deadline based on your case type and state.

Statute of Limitations Calculator

Key Takeaways

Act Quickly: Never wait to consult an attorney - deadlines can be shorter than listed due to special circumstances
State Variations: Time limits vary dramatically between states - from 1 year to 6+ years for the same type of claim
Type Matters: Different types of claims have different deadlines even within the same state
Exceptions Exist: Various factors can extend or shorten the standard deadline
Government Different: Claims against government entities often have much shorter deadlines
Absolute Bar: Missing the deadline typically means losing your right to sue forever

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if I miss the statute of limitations?

Missing the statute of limitations deadline typically bars your claim forever. The defendant can file a motion to dismiss based on the expired statute, which courts will almost always grant. There are very few exceptions, making it crucial to act before the deadline.

When does the statute of limitations start running?

Generally, the clock starts on the date of injury or when the breach occurred. However, some states apply the "discovery rule" for certain claims, starting the clock when you discovered or should have discovered the harm.

Can the statute of limitations be extended by agreement?

In some cases, parties can agree to extend the statute of limitations through a written tolling agreement. This is common during settlement negotiations. However, some claims (like those against government entities) cannot be extended by agreement.

Does filing a complaint stop the statute of limitations?

Yes, properly filing a lawsuit in court before the deadline stops the statute of limitations from running. However, you must also properly serve the defendant within the time required by your state's rules (usually 60-120 days).

Are there different deadlines for insurance claims?

Insurance policies often have their own deadlines for filing claims, which may be shorter than the legal statute of limitations. Always check your policy and comply with both insurance deadlines and legal deadlines.

Statute of Limitations by State