Statute of Limitations
by State - All 50 States
Look up your legal filing deadline by state and claim type. Enter your incident date to calculate the exact date your case expires.
All 50 States - Statute of Limitations Reference Table
Filing deadlines for personal injury and contract claims. Always verify with current state statutes - these can change.
| State | Years | Exceptions / Notes |
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Understanding Statute of Limitations Laws
Statutes of limitations are among the most important procedural rules in civil law. Missing a deadline - even by one day - can permanently bar your claim, no matter how strong the underlying case might be.
Why Do Statutes of Limitations Exist?
The policy rationales behind limitations periods include: ensuring evidence remains fresh and available, preventing defendants from facing stale claims they can no longer defend against, encouraging plaintiffs to pursue claims diligently, and providing legal certainty so people can move on without perpetual liability.
The Discovery Rule
Many states apply a "discovery rule" for certain claims: the statute of limitations clock doesn't start until the plaintiff knew or reasonably should have known about the injury. This most commonly applies in medical malpractice cases (where harm may not be apparent immediately), toxic exposure cases, and fraud cases (where the wrongdoing may be concealed).
Tolling - When the Clock Pauses
The statute of limitations can be "tolled" (paused) in various circumstances. Common tolling events include: the plaintiff is a minor (clock starts when they turn 18 in most states), the defendant is out of state or hiding, the plaintiff has a mental disability, or the defendant fraudulently concealed the claim. Tolling rules vary significantly by state and claim type.
Federal Claims Have Different Deadlines
Federal lawsuits (civil rights violations under Section 1983, EEOC employment discrimination claims, federal securities fraud, etc.) have their own limitations periods set by federal law, often 2-4 years depending on the claim type. These are separate from state statutes of limitations and controlled by federal courts.
How to use Statute of Limitations by State - All 50 States
Enter your figures
Fill in State, Claim type, Date of incident (optional) and Filter by state name.... Values you change are used straight away, with no submit button.
Adjust the assumptions
Fine-tune Claim Filter to match your own situation.
Read the results
The Understanding Statute of Limitations Laws update as soon as a value changes.
What this tool does
All 50 states
Pick a state and the limits shown are the ones that state sets, because they differ enormously from one to the next.
Personal injury, contract, property and malpractice
Claim type changes the deadline as much as the state does, so both are chosen rather than assumed.
Your actual expiry date
Enter the date of the incident and it returns the date the deadline falls on, rather than leaving you to count years.
Compare states side by side
Filter the full table by state name to see how a claim would be treated elsewhere, which matters when the parties are in different places.
Compare one claim across states
Filter by claim type to see the same kind of case across the country, from the shortest deadline to the longest.
Runs fully in your browser with no upload and no sign-up
This is general reference information, not legal advice, and deadlines can be paused or extended by circumstances. Nothing you enter is uploaded.
Frequently asked questions
What is the statute of limitations for personal injury in California?
California has a 2-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims (Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 335.1). However, there are important exceptions: if the injured person is a minor, the 2-year period begins on their 18th birthday. Claims against government entities have a much shorter deadline - you must file an administrative claim with the agency within 6 months of the incident.
What is the statute of limitations for breach of contract in Texas?
In Texas, the statute of limitations for breach of written contract is 4 years (Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.004). For oral contracts, it is also 4 years. The clock generally starts running when the breach occurs, though for some contracts it starts when you discover (or should have discovered) the breach. Texas uses the same 4-year period for written and oral contracts, which is more generous than many states.
Is there a statute of limitations for murder?
No. Murder and other serious violent felonies have no statute of limitations in the US - prosecution can be initiated at any time. Many states also have no limitations period for rape, child sexual abuse, and other serious felonies. For less serious crimes, criminal statutes of limitations are typically 3-7 years depending on the offense, though these are separate from civil limitations periods.
Does the statute of limitations reset if the defendant moves out of state?
In most states, yes - the statute of limitations is tolled (paused) while a defendant is physically absent from the state, because serving them with a lawsuit becomes more difficult. However, the Uniform Commercial Code and modern long-arm statutes have reduced this exception's significance in many states. Check your specific state's tolling rules.
What should I do if my statute of limitations is about to expire?
Contact a licensed attorney immediately - this is a true legal emergency. An attorney can file a complaint to preserve the claim while continuing to investigate. Even if you aren't sure you want to proceed with a lawsuit, preserving your legal rights buys time. Many personal injury attorneys offer free initial consultations and work on contingency (no fee unless you win).
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