Civil statute of limitations by state and type of claim

How long do you have to sue? Every state sets a different clock for each kind of civil claim, and missing it ends the claim outright — no defence, no appeal on the merits. The spread is wide and it moves: Florida cut its personal-injury period from four years to two in March 2023 (HB 837), Louisiana went the other way in July 2024, and a great many 'statute of limitations by state' tables still print the old figures. One record per state per type of claim — personal injury, medical malpractice, wrongful death, written contract, oral contract, property damage, fraud, defamation, debt — each quoted verbatim from that state's own legislature or revisor, never from a law-firm summary or a code mirror. The period is recorded in the statute's own words ('two years', 'six years'), not converted, because the conversion is where these tables go wrong. Answers 'statute of limitations for personal injury in Ohio', 'how long to sue for breach of contract by state', 'medical malpractice filing deadline', 'defamation statute of limitations'. Adjacent to state-construction-defect-limitations-periods, mechanics-lien-deadlines-by-state and whistleblower-filing-deadlines. This is a deadline lookup, not legal advice: tolling, discovery rules, minority, and claims against government bodies all change the answer, and the record says so where the statute does.

Records238

Sources64

Verified2026-08-25

Review by2027-08-25

LicenceFacts taken from US state statutes, each with a verbatim attributed quote and a link back to the publishing legislature or revisor. The text of a state statute is an edict of government and carries no copyright (a US-wide rule since Wheaton v. Peters, restated for annotations in Georgia v. Public.Resource.Org, 2020). No whole chapter is reproduced: each record carries one provision's operative phrase. No source used here carries a restrictive notice.

The data

Type of claim	State	Limitation period	How the statute describes it	Section	When the clock starts
Assault or battery	California	Within two years	An action for assault, battery	335.1
Assault or battery	Colorado	one year	The following tort actions: Assault, battery, false imprisonment, false arrest, libel, and slander	13-80-103	after the cause of action accrues
Assault or battery	District of Columbia	1 year	for libel, slander, assault, battery, mayhem, wounding, malicious prosecution, false arrest or false imprisonment	12–301	from the time the right to maintain the action accrues
Assault or battery	Kansas	one year	An action for assault, battery, malicious prosecution, or false imprisonment	60-514
Assault or battery	Minnesota	two years	for libel, slander, assault, battery, false imprisonment, or other tort resulting in personal injury
Assault or battery	Missouri	two years	an action for libel, slander, injurious falsehood, assault, battery, false imprisonment	516.140
Assault or battery	Montana	within 2 years	an action for libel, slander, assault, battery, false imprisonment, or seduction
Assault or battery	Nevada	2 years	An action for libel, slander, assault, battery, false imprisonment or seduction
Assault or battery	North Dakota	two years	An action for libel, slander, assault, battery, or false imprisonment	28-01-18	after the claim for relief has accrued
Assault or battery	Oregon	two years	An action for assault, battery, false imprisonment	12.110
Assault or battery	South Carolina	three years	an action for assault, battery, or any injury to the person or rights of another	15-3-530
Assault or battery	Vermont	three years	assault and battery	§ 512	after the cause of action accrues
Assault or battery	Washington	two years	An action for libel, slander, assault, assault and battery, or false imprisonment	4.16.100
Assault or battery	Wyoming	one (1) year	Assault or battery not including sexual assault	1-3-105	after the cause of action accrues
Catch-all (no other period fixed)	District of Columbia	3 years	for which a limitation is not otherwise specially prescribed	12–301	from the time the right to maintain the action accrues
Catch-all (no other period fixed)	Iowa	within five years	all other actions not otherwise provided for in this respect
Catch-all (no other period fixed)	Maine	6 years	All civil actions shall be commenced within 6 years after the cause of action accrues	§752	after the cause of action accrues
Catch-all (no other period fixed)	Maryland	three years	A civil action at law shall be filed within three years from the date it accrues unless another provision of the Code provides a different period of time	5–101	from the date it accrues
Catch-all (no other period fixed)	New Hampshire	3 years	all personal actions, except actions for slander or libel, may be brought only within 3 years of the act or omission complained of	508:4
Catch-all (no other period fixed)	Oregon	10 years	An action for any cause not otherwise provided for	12.140
Catch-all (no other period fixed)	West Virginia	one year	if it be for any other matter of such nature that, in case a party die, it could not have been brought at common law by or against his personal representative		next after the right to bring the same shall have accrued
Debt on account	Delaware	3 years	no action to recover a debt not evidenced by a record or by an instrument under seal	§ 8106	from the accruing of the cause of such action
Debt on account	Nevada	4 years	An action on an open account for goods, wares and merchandise sold and delivered
Debt on account	Washington	six years	An action upon an account receivable	4.16.040
Defamation	California	Within one year	An action for libel, slander, false imprisonment	340
Defamation	Colorado	one year	The following tort actions: Assault, battery, false imprisonment, false arrest, libel, and slander	13-80-103	after the cause of action accrues
Defamation	District of Columbia	1 year	for libel, slander, assault, battery, mayhem, wounding, malicious prosecution, false arrest or false imprisonment	12–301	from the time the right to maintain the action accrues
Defamation	Iowa	within two years	Those founded on injuries to the person or reputation, including injuries to relative rights, whether based on contract or tort	614.1	after their causes accrue
Defamation	Kansas	one year	An action for libel or slander	60-514
Defamation	Maine	2 years	Actions for slander and libel	§753	after the cause of action accrues
Defamation	Minnesota	two years	for libel, slander, assault, battery, false imprisonment, or other tort resulting in personal injury
Defamation	Missouri	two years	an action for libel, slander, injurious falsehood, assault, battery, false imprisonment, criminal conversation, malicious prosecution	516.140
Defamation	Montana	within 2 years	an action for libel, slander, assault, battery, false imprisonment, or seduction
Defamation	Nebraska	one year	an action for libel or slander	25-208
Defamation	Nevada	2 years	An action for libel, slander, assault, battery, false imprisonment or seduction
Defamation	New Hampshire	3 years	Personal actions for slander or libel, unless otherwise provided by law, may be brought only within 3 years of the time the cause of action accrued	508:4	within 3 years of the time the cause of action accrued
Defamation	North Carolina	one year	For libel and slander	1-54
Defamation	North Dakota	two years	An action for libel, slander, assault, battery, or false imprisonment	28-01-18	after the claim for relief has accrued
Defamation	Ohio	within one year	An action for libel, slander, malicious prosecution, or false imprisonment		after the cause of action accrued
Defamation	Oregon	one year	An action for libel or slander	12.120
Defamation	Rhode Island	one year	Actions for words spoken	9-1-14	next after the words spoken
Defamation	South Carolina	two years	an action for libel, slander, or false imprisonment	15-3-550
Defamation	Vermont	three years	slander and libel	§ 512	after the cause of action accrues
Defamation	Washington	two years	An action for libel, slander, assault, assault and battery, or false imprisonment	4.16.100
Defamation	Wyoming	one (1) year	Libel or slander	1-3-105	after the cause of action accrues
Fraud	Colorado	three years	All actions for fraud, misrepresentation, concealment, or deceit	13-80-101	after the cause of action accrues
Fraud	Iowa	within five years	or for relief on the ground of fraud in cases heretofore solely cognizable in a court of chancery
Fraud	Kansas	two years	An action for relief on the ground of fraud	60-513	the cause of action shall not be deemed to have accrued until the fraud is discovered
Fraud	Minnesota	six years	for relief on the ground of fraud		the cause of action shall not be deemed to have accrued until the discovery by the aggrieved party of the facts constituting the fraud
Fraud	Missouri	five years	An action for relief on the ground of fraud	516.120	the cause of action in such case to be deemed not to have accrued until the discovery by the aggrieved party, at any time within ten years, of the facts constituting the fraud
Fraud	Montana	within 2 years	an action for relief on the ground of fraud or mistake	27-2-203	not to be deemed to have accrued until the discovery by the aggrieved party of the facts constituting the fraud or mistake
Fraud	Nebraska	four years	an action for relief on the ground of fraud	25-207	the cause of action in such case shall not be deemed to have accrued until the discovery of the fraud
Fraud	Nevada	3 years	an action for relief on the ground of fraud or mistake
Fraud	North Dakota	six years	An action for relief on the ground of fraud in all cases both at law and in equity	28-01-16	not to be deemed to have accrued until the discovery by the aggrieved party of the facts constituting the fraud
Fraud	Ohio	within four years	For relief on the ground of fraud		after the cause thereof accrued
Fraud	Virginia	two years	every action for damages resulting from fraud		after the cause of action accrues
Fraud	Washington	three years	An action for relief upon the ground of fraud	4.16.080	the cause of action in such case not to be deemed to have accrued until the discovery by the aggrieved party of the facts constituting the fraud
Fraud	Wyoming	four (4) years	For relief on the ground of fraud	1-3-105	after the cause of action accrues
Judgment	Florida	WITHIN TWENTY YEARS	An action on a judgment or decree of a court of record in this state	95.11
Judgment	Iowa	within twenty years	Those founded on a judgment of a court of record, whether of this or of any other of the United States, or of the federal courts of the United States
Judgment	Nevada	6 years	an action upon a judgment or decree of any court of the United States, or of any state or territory within the United States, or the renewal thereof	NRS 11.190
Judgment	North Dakota	ten years	An action upon a judgment or decree of any court of the United States or of any state or territory within the United States	28-01-15	after the claim for relief has accrued
Legal malpractice	Montana	within 3 years	An action against an attorney licensed to practice law in Montana or a paralegal assistant or a legal intern employed by an attorney based upon the person's alleged professional negligent act or for error or omission in the person's practice	27-2-206	after the plaintiff discovers or through the use of reasonable diligence should have discovered the act, error, or omission, whichever occurs last
Legal malpractice	Nebraska	two years	Any action to recover damages based on alleged professional negligence or upon alleged breach of warranty in rendering or failure to render professional services	25-222	next after the alleged act or omission in rendering or failure to render professional services providing the basis for such action
Legal malpractice	New York	three years	an action to recover damages for malpractice, other than medical, dental or podiatric malpractice, regardless of whether the underlying theory is based in contract or tort	214
Legal malpractice	Ohio	within one year	an action for legal malpractice against an attorney or a law firm or legal professional association		after the cause of action accrued
Medical debt	Florida	WITHIN THREE YEARS	An action to collect medical debt for services rendered by a facility licensed under chapter 395		from the date on which the facility refers the medical debt to a third party for collection
Medical debt	Virginia	three years	upon any contract under subdivision A 2 or 4 to collect medical debt		from the due date applicable to the final invoice for a health care service
Medical malpractice	Arizona	two years	causes of action for medical malpractice as defined in section 12-561	12-542	after the cause of action accrues
Medical malpractice	California	three years after the date of injury or one year after the plaintiff discovers, or through the use of reasonable diligence should have discovered, the injury, whichever occurs first	In an action for injury or death against a health care provider based upon such person’s alleged professional negligence	340.5
Medical malpractice	Florida	within 2 years	An action for medical malpractice		from the time the incident giving rise to the action occurred
Medical malpractice	Idaho	two (2) years	An action to recover damages for professional malpractice	5-219
Medical malpractice	Montana	within 2 years	based upon alleged professional negligence or for rendering professional services without consent or for an act, error, or omission		after the date of injury or within 2 years after the plaintiff discovers or through the use of reasonable diligence should have discovered the injury, whichever occurs last
Medical malpractice	Nebraska	two years	an action for malpractice which is not otherwise specifically limited by statute	25-208
Medical malpractice	New York	two years and six months	An action for medical, dental or podiatric malpractice	214-a	of the act, omission or failure complained of or last treatment where there is continuous treatment for the same illness, injury or condition
Medical malpractice	North Dakota	two years	An action for the recovery of damages resulting from malpractice	28-01-18	after the claim for relief has accrued
Medical malpractice	Ohio	within one year	an action upon a medical, dental, optometric, or chiropractic claim		after the cause of action accrued
Medical malpractice	Oregon	two years	An action to recover damages for injuries to the person arising from any medical, surgical or dental treatment, omission or operation		from the date when the injury is first discovered or in the exercise of reasonable care should have been discovered
Medical malpractice	South Carolina	three years	to recover damages for injury to the person arising out of any medical, surgical, or dental treatment, omission, or operation by any licensed health care provider	15-3-545	from the date of the treatment, omission, or operation giving rise to the cause of action
Medical malpractice	Virginia	two-year	actions for malpractice against a health care provider
Medical malpractice	Washington	within three years of the act or omission alleged to have caused the injury or condition, or one year of the time the patient or his or her representative discovered or reasonably should have discovered that the injury or condition was caused by said act or omission, whichever period expires later	based upon alleged professional negligence
Oral contract	California	Within two years	An action upon a contract, obligation or liability not founded upon an instrument of writing	339
Oral contract	Colorado	three years	All contract actions, including personal contracts	13-80-101	after the cause of action accrues
Oral contract	Delaware	3 years	no action based on a promise	§ 8106	from the accruing of the cause of such action
Oral contract	District of Columbia	3 years	on a simple contract, express or implied	12–301	from the time the right to maintain the action accrues
Oral contract	Iowa	within five years	Those founded on unwritten contracts
Oral contract	Kansas	three (3) years	All actions upon contracts, obligations or liabilities expressed or implied but not in writing	60-512
Oral contract	Maine	6 years	All civil actions shall be commenced within 6 years after the cause of action accrues	§752	after the cause of action accrues
Oral contract	Massachusetts	six years	Actions of contract, other than those to recover for personal injuries, founded upon contracts or liabilities, express or implied	Section 2	next after the cause of action accrues
Oral contract	Minnesota	six years	upon a contract or other obligation, express or implied, as to which no other limitation is expressly prescribed
Oral contract	Missouri	five years	All actions upon contracts, obligations or liabilities, express or implied	516.120
Oral contract	Montana	within 5 years	an action on a contract, account, or promise not founded on an instrument in writing	27-2-202
Oral contract	Nebraska	four years	An action upon a contract, not in writing, expressed or implied	25-206
Oral contract	Nevada	4 years	An action upon a contract, obligation or liability not founded upon an instrument in writing
Oral contract	New Hampshire	3 years	all personal actions, except actions for slander or libel, may be brought only within 3 years of the act or omission complained of	508:4
Oral contract	North Carolina	three years	Upon a contract, obligation or liability arising out of a contract, express or implied	1-52
Oral contract	North Dakota	six years	An action upon a contract, obligation, or liability, express or implied	28-01-16	after the claim for relief has accrued
Oral contract	Ohio	within four years	an action upon a contract not in writing, express or implied		after the cause of action accrued
Oral contract	Oregon	six years	An action upon a contract or liability, express or implied	12.080
Oral contract	South Carolina	three years	an action upon a contract, obligation, or liability, express or implied, excepting those provided for in Section 15-3-520	15-3-530
Oral contract	Virginia	three years	any unwritten contract, express or implied, within three years		next after the cause of action shall have accrued
Oral contract	Washington	three years	an action upon a contract or liability, express or implied, which is not in writing, and does not arise out of any written instrument	4.16.080
Oral contract	Wisconsin	6 years	an action upon any contract, obligation, or liability, express or implied, including an action to recover fees for professional services		after the cause of action accrues
Oral contract	Wyoming	eight (8) years	Upon a contract not in writing, either express or implied	1-3-105	after the cause of action accrues
Personal injury	Arizona	two years	For injuries done to the person of another	12-542	after the cause of action accrues
Personal injury	California	Within two years	An action for assault, battery, or injury to, or for the death of, an individual caused by the wrongful act or neglect of another	335.1
Personal injury	Colorado	two years	Tort actions, including but not limited to actions for negligence, trespass, malicious abuse of process, malicious prosecution, outrageous conduct, interference with relationships, and tortious breach of contract	13-80-102	after the cause of action accrues
Personal injury	Delaware	2 years	No action for the recovery of damages upon a claim for alleged personal injuries	§ 8119	from the date upon which it is claimed that such alleged injuries were sustained
Personal injury	Florida	WITHIN TWO YEARS	An action founded on negligence
Personal injury	Hawaii	two years	Actions for the recovery of compensation for damage or injury to persons or property	657-7	after the cause of action accrued
Personal injury	Idaho	two (2) years	An action to recover damages for professional malpractice, or for an injury to the person	5-219
Personal injury	Iowa	within two years	Those founded on injuries to the person or reputation, including injuries to relative rights, whether based on contract or tort	614.1	after their causes accrue
Personal injury	Kansas	two years	An action for injury to the rights of another, not arising on contract, and not herein enumerated	60-513
Personal injury	Maine	6 years	All civil actions shall be commenced within 6 years after the cause of action accrues	§752	after the cause of action accrues
Personal injury	Massachusetts	three years	actions of tort, actions of contract to recover for personal injuries, and actions of replevin	Section 2A	next after the cause of action accrues
Personal injury	Minnesota	six years	for criminal conversation, or for any other injury to the person or rights of another, not arising on contract, and not hereinafter enumerated
Personal injury	Missouri	five years	for any other injury to the person or rights of another, not arising on contract and not herein otherwise enumerated	516.120
Personal injury	Montana	within 3 years	an action upon a liability not founded upon an instrument in writing
Personal injury	Nebraska	four years	an action for an injury to the rights of the plaintiff, not arising on contract, and not hereinafter enumerated	25-207
Personal injury	Nevada	2 years	an action to recover damages for injuries to a person
Personal injury	New Hampshire	3 years	all personal actions, except actions for slander or libel, may be brought only within 3 years of the act or omission complained of	508:4	within 3 years of the time the plaintiff discovers, or in the exercise of reasonable diligence should have discovered, the injury and its causal relationship to the act or omission complained of
Personal injury	New York	three years	an action to recover damages for a personal injury	214
Personal injury	North Carolina	three years	for any other injury to the person or rights of another, not arising on contract	1-52
Personal injury	North Dakota	six years	An action for criminal conversation or for any other injury to the person or rights of another not arising upon contract, when not otherwise expressly provided	28-01-16	after the claim for relief has accrued
Personal injury	Ohio	within two years	an action for bodily injury or injuring personal property		when the injury or loss to person or property occurs
Personal injury	Oregon	two years	An action for assault, battery, false imprisonment, or for any injury to the person or rights of another, not arising on contract	12.110
Personal injury	Rhode Island	three (3) years	Actions for injuries to the person	9-1-14	next after the cause of action shall accrue
Personal injury	South Carolina	three years	an action for assault, battery, or any injury to the person or rights of another, not arising on contract	15-3-530
Personal injury	Vermont	three years	injuries to the person suffered by the act or default of another person	§ 512	the cause of action shall be deemed to accrue as of the date of the discovery of the injury
Personal injury	Virginia	two years	every action for personal injuries, whatever the theory of recovery		after the cause of action accrues
Personal injury	Washington	three years	for any other injury to the person or rights of another not hereinafter enumerated	4.16.080
Personal injury	West Virginia	two years	if it be for damages for personal injuries		next after the right to bring the same shall have accrued
Personal injury	Wisconsin	3 years	An action to recover damages for injuries to the person, including an action to recover damages for injuries to the person caused or sustained by or arising from an accident involving a motor vehicle
Personal injury	Wyoming	four (4) years	An injury to the rights of the plaintiff, not arising on contract and not herein enumerated	1-3-105	after the cause of action accrues
Product liability	Nebraska	four years	All product liability actions, except one governed by subsection (5) of this section	25-224	next after the date on which the death, injury, or damage complained of occurs
Product liability	Ohio	within two years	an action based on a product liability claim		when the injury or loss to person or property occurs
Property damage	Arizona	two years	For taking or carrying away the goods and chattels of another	12-542	after the cause of action accrues
Property damage	California	Within three years	An action for taking, detaining, or injuring goods or chattels, including an action for the specific recovery of personal property	338
Property damage	Colorado	three years	All actions of replevin or for taking, detaining, or converting goods or chattels	13-80-101	after the cause of action accrues
Property damage	Delaware	2 years	injury to personal property	§ 8107	from the accruing of the cause of such action
Property damage	District of Columbia	3 years	for the recovery of damages for an injury to real or personal property	12–301	from the time the right to maintain the action accrues
Property damage	Hawaii	two years	Actions for the recovery of compensation for damage or injury to persons or property	657-7	after the cause of action accrued
Property damage	Iowa	within five years	those brought for injuries to property
Property damage	Kansas	two years	An action for taking, detaining or injuring personal property, including actions for the specific recovery thereof	60-513
Property damage	Maine	6 years	All civil actions shall be commenced within 6 years after the cause of action accrues	§752	after the cause of action accrues
Property damage	Minnesota	six years	for taking, detaining, or injuring personal property, including actions for the specific recovery thereof
Property damage	Missouri	five years	An action for taking, detaining or injuring any goods or chattels, including actions for the recovery of specific personal property	516.120
Property damage	Montana	Within 2 years	taking, detaining, or injuring any goods or chattels, including actions for the specific recovery of personal property	27-2-207
Property damage	Nebraska	four years	an action for taking, detaining or injuring personal property, including actions for the specific recovery of personal property	25-207
Property damage	Nevada	3 years	An action for taking, detaining or injuring personal property, including actions for specific recovery thereof
Property damage	New Hampshire	3 years	all personal actions, except actions for slander or libel, may be brought only within 3 years of the act or omission complained of	508:4
Property damage	New York	three years	an action to recover damages for an injury to property	214
Property damage	North Carolina	three years	For taking, detaining, converting or injuring any goods or chattels	1-52
Property damage	North Dakota	six years	An action for taking, detaining, or injuring any goods or chattels, including actions for the specific recovery of personal property	28-01-16	after the claim for relief has accrued
Property damage	Oregon	six years	An action for taking, detaining or injuring personal property, including an action for the specific recovery thereof	12.080
Property damage	South Carolina	three years	an action for taking, detaining, or injuring any goods or chattels including an action for the specific recovery of personal property	15-3-530
Property damage	Vermont	three years	damage to personal property suffered by the act or default of another	§ 512	after the cause of action accrues
Property damage	Virginia	five years	Every action for injury to property		after the cause of action accrues
Property damage	Washington	three years	An action for taking, detaining, or injuring personal property	4.16.080
Property damage	West Virginia	two years	if it be for damage to property		next after the right to bring the same shall have accrued
Property damage	Wisconsin	6 years	an action, not arising on contract, to recover damages for an injury to real or personal property		after the cause of action accrues
Property damage	Wyoming	four (4) years	The recovery of personal property or for taking, detaining or injuring personal property	1-3-105	after the cause of action accrues
Recovery of real property	District of Columbia	15 years	for the recovery of lands, tenements, or hereditaments	12–301	from the time the right to maintain the action accrues
Recovery of real property	Iowa	within ten years	those brought for the recovery of real property
Statutory penalty	California	Within three years	An action upon a liability created by statute, other than a penalty or forfeiture	338
Statutory penalty	Colorado	one year	All actions for any penalty or forfeiture of any penal statutes	13-80-103	after the cause of action accrues
Statutory penalty	Delaware	3 years	no action based on a statute	§ 8106	from the accruing of the cause of such action
Statutory penalty	District of Columbia	1 year	for a statutory penalty or forfeiture	12–301	from the time the right to maintain the action accrues
Statutory penalty	Idaho	two (2) years	An action upon a statute for a penalty or forfeiture, where the action is given to an individual, or to an individual and the state	5-219
Statutory penalty	Iowa	within two years	or for a statute penalty, within two years	614.1	after their causes accrue
Statutory penalty	Kansas	one year	An action upon statutory penalty or forfeiture	60-514
Statutory penalty	Minnesota	two years	upon a statute for a penalty or forfeiture
Statutory penalty	Missouri	three years	An action upon a statute for a penalty or forfeiture, where the action is given to the party aggrieved, or to such party and the state	516.130
Statutory penalty	Nevada	2 years	An action upon a statute for a penalty or forfeiture, where the action is given to a person or the State, or both
Statutory penalty	New York	three years	an action to recover upon a liability, penalty or forfeiture created or imposed by statute	214
Statutory penalty	North Carolina	three years	Upon a liability created by statute, either state or federal	1-52
Statutory penalty	North Dakota	two years	An action upon a statute for a forfeiture or penalty to the state	28-01-18	after the claim for relief has accrued
Statutory penalty	Ohio	within six years	An action upon a liability created by statute other than a forfeiture or penalty		after the cause of action accrued
Statutory penalty	Oregon	two years	An action upon a statute for a forfeiture or penalty to the state or county	12.110
Statutory penalty	South Carolina	two years	an action upon a statute for a forfeiture or penalty to the State	15-3-550
Statutory penalty	Washington	two years	An action upon a statute for a forfeiture or penalty to the state	4.16.100
Trespass to real property	Arizona	two years	For trespass for injury done to the estate or the property of another	12-542	after the cause of action accrues
Trespass to real property	California	Within three years	An action for trespass upon or injury to real property	338
Trespass to real property	Colorado	two years	Tort actions, including but not limited to actions for negligence, trespass	13-80-102	after the cause of action accrues
Trespass to real property	Delaware	3 years	No action to recover damages for trespass	§ 8106	from the accruing of the cause of such action
Trespass to real property	Kansas	two years	An action for trespass upon real property	60-513
Trespass to real property	Minnesota	six years	for a trespass upon real estate
Trespass to real property	Missouri	five years	An action for trespass on real estate	516.120
Trespass to real property	Montana	Within 2 years	injury to or waste or trespass on real or personal property	27-2-207
Trespass to real property	Nebraska	four years	An action for trespass upon real property	25-207
Trespass to real property	Nevada	3 years	An action for waste or trespass of real property
Trespass to real property	North Carolina	three years	For trespass upon real property	1-52
Trespass to real property	North Dakota	six years	An action for trespass upon real property	28-01-16	after the claim for relief has accrued
Trespass to real property	Ohio	within four years	For trespassing upon real property		after the cause thereof accrued
Trespass to real property	Oregon	six years	An action for waste or trespass upon or for interference with or injury to any interest of another in real property	12.080
Trespass to real property	South Carolina	three years	an action for trespass upon or damage to real property	15-3-530
Trespass to real property	Washington	three years	An action for waste or trespass upon real property	4.16.080
Trespass to real property	Wisconsin	6 years	an action, not arising on contract, to recover damages for an injury to real or personal property		after the cause of action accrues
Trespass to real property	Wyoming	four (4) years	Trespass upon real property	1-3-105	after the cause of action accrues
Written contract	California	Within four years	An action upon any contract, obligation or liability founded upon an instrument in writing	337
Written contract	Colorado	three years	All contract actions, including personal contracts	13-80-101	after the cause of action accrues
Written contract	Delaware	3 years	no action based on a promise	§ 8106	from the accruing of the cause of such action
Written contract	District of Columbia	12 years	on any other bond or single bill, covenant, or other instrument under seal	12–301	from the time the right to maintain the action accrues
Written contract	Florida	WITHIN FIVE YEARS	A legal or equitable action on a contract, obligation, or liability founded on a written instrument
Written contract	Iowa	within ten years	those founded on written contracts, or on judgments of any courts except those provided for in subsection 6, and those brought for the recovery of real property
Written contract	Kansas	five (5) years	An action upon any agreement, contract or promise in writing	60-511
Written contract	Maine	6 years	All civil actions shall be commenced within 6 years after the cause of action accrues	§752	after the cause of action accrues
Written contract	Massachusetts	six years	Actions of contract, other than those to recover for personal injuries, founded upon contracts or liabilities, express or implied	Section 2	next after the cause of action accrues
Written contract	Minnesota	six years	upon a contract or other obligation, express or implied, as to which no other limitation is expressly prescribed
Written contract	Missouri	five years	All actions upon contracts, obligations or liabilities, express or implied	516.120
Written contract	Montana	within 6 years	an action on any contract, covenant, obligation, or liability founded on an instrument in writing	27-2-202
Written contract	Nebraska	five years	an action upon a specialty, or any agreement, contract, or promise in writing, or foreign judgment	25-205
Written contract	Nevada	6 years	An action upon a contract, obligation or liability founded upon an instrument in writing	NRS 11.190
Written contract	New Hampshire	3 years	all personal actions, except actions for slander or libel, may be brought only within 3 years of the act or omission complained of	508:4
Written contract	North Carolina	three years	Upon a contract, obligation or liability arising out of a contract, express or implied	1-52
Written contract	North Dakota	six years	An action upon a contract, obligation, or liability, express or implied	28-01-16	after the claim for relief has accrued
Written contract	Ohio	within six years	an action upon a specialty or an agreement, contract, or promise in writing		after the cause of action accrued
Written contract	Oregon	six years	An action upon a contract or liability, express or implied	12.080
Written contract	South Carolina	twenty years	an action upon a bond or other contract in writing secured by a mortgage of real property	15-3-520
Written contract	Virginia	five years	In actions on any contract that is not otherwise specified and that is in writing and signed by the party to be charged thereby, or by his agent, within five years		next after the cause of action shall have accrued
Written contract	Washington	six years	An action upon a contract in writing, or liability express or implied arising out of a written agreement	4.16.040
Written contract	Wisconsin	6 years	an action upon any contract, obligation, or liability, express or implied, including an action to recover fees for professional services		after the cause of action accrues
Written contract	Wyoming	ten (10) years	an action upon a specialty or any contract, agreement or promise in writing	1-3-105	after the cause of action accrues
Wrongful death	Arizona	two years	For injuries done to the person of another when death ensues from such injuries	12-542	which action shall be considered as accruing at the death of the party injured
Wrongful death	California	Within two years	injury to, or for the death of, an individual caused by the wrongful act or neglect of another	335.1
Wrongful death	Colorado	two years	All actions for wrongful death	13-80-102	after the cause of action accrues
Wrongful death	Delaware	2 years	No action to recover damages for wrongful death	§ 8107	from the accruing of the cause of such action
Wrongful death	Idaho	two (2) years	for the death of one caused by the wrongful act or neglect of another	5-219
Wrongful death	Kansas	two years	An action for wrongful death	60-513
Wrongful death	Montana	within 3 years	an action to recover damages for the death of one caused by the wrongful act or neglect of another
Wrongful death	Nebraska	two years	Action for wrongful death	30-810	after the death of such person
Wrongful death	Nevada	2 years	for the death of a person caused by the wrongful act or neglect of another
Wrongful death	New York	two years	an action to recover damages for a wrongful act, neglect or default which caused the decedent's death	5-4.1	after the decedent's death
Wrongful death	North Carolina	two years	Actions for damages on account of the death of a person caused by the wrongful act, neglect or fault of another	1-53	the cause of action shall not accrue until the date of death
Wrongful death	North Dakota	two years	An action for injuries done to the person of another, when death ensues from such injuries	28-01-18	the claim for relief must be deemed to have accrued at the time of the death of the party injured
Wrongful death	Ohio	within two years	a civil action for wrongful death		after the decedent's death
Wrongful death	South Carolina	three years	an action under Sections 15-51-10 to 15-51-60 for death by wrongful act	15-3-530	the period to begin to run upon the death of the person on account of whose death the action is brought
Wrongful death	Wisconsin	3 years	An action brought to recover damages for death caused by the wrongful act, neglect or default of another

Where this came from

Every record above links the page it was taken from and quotes the sentence that states it. These are the 64 sources this dataset was assembled from.

leginfo.legislature.ca.govhttps://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displayText.xhtml?lawCode=CCP&division=&title=2.&part=2&chapter=3&article=
leg.colorado.govhttps://leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/images/olls/crs2024-title-13.pdf
code.dccouncil.govhttps://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/12-301
ksrevisor.govhttps://www.ksrevisor.gov/statutes/chapters/ch60/060_005_0014.html
revisor.mn.govhttps://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/541.07
revisor.mo.govhttps://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=516.140
mca.legmt.govhttps://mca.legmt.gov/bills/mca/title_0270/chapter_0020/part_0020/section_0040/0270-0020-0020-0040.html
leg.state.nv.ushttps://www.leg.state.nv.us/nrs/nrs-011.html
ndlegis.govhttps://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t28c01.pdf
oregonlegislature.govhttps://www.oregonlegislature.gov/bills_laws/ors/ors012.html
scstatehouse.govhttps://www.scstatehouse.gov/code/t15c003.php
legislature.vermont.govhttp://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/section/12/023/00512
app.leg.wa.govhttps://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=4.16.100
wyoleg.govhttps://wyoleg.gov/statutes/compress/title01.pdf
legis.iowa.govhttps://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/code/614.pdf
legislature.maine.govhttps://legislature.maine.gov/statutes/14/title14sec752.html
mgaleg.maryland.govhttps://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=gcj&section=5-101
gencourt.state.nh.ushttps://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/rsa/html/LII/508/508-mrg.htm
code.wvlegislature.govhttps://code.wvlegislature.gov/55-2-12/
delcode.delaware.govhttps://delcode.delaware.gov/title10/c081/index.html
app.leg.wa.govhttps://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=4.16.040
legislature.maine.govhttps://legislature.maine.gov/statutes/14/title14sec753.html
nebraskalegislature.govhttps://nebraskalegislature.gov/laws/statutes.php?statute=25-208
ncleg.govhttps://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/ByArticle/Chapter_1/Article_5.html
codes.ohio.govhttps://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-2305.11
webserver.rilegislature.govhttps://webserver.rilegislature.gov/Statutes/TITLE9/9-1/9-1-14.HTM
ksrevisor.govhttps://www.ksrevisor.gov/statutes/chapters/ch60/060_005_0013.html
revisor.mn.govhttps://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/541.05
revisor.mo.govhttps://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=516.120
mca.legmt.govhttps://mca.legmt.gov/bills/mca/title_0270/chapter_0020/part_0020/section_0030/0270-0020-0020-0030.html
nebraskalegislature.govhttps://nebraskalegislature.gov/laws/statutes.php?statute=25-207
codes.ohio.govhttps://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-2305.09
law.lis.virginia.govhttps://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title8.01/chapter4/section8.01-243/
app.leg.wa.govhttps://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=4.16.080
flsenate.govhttps://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2025/95.11
mca.legmt.govhttps://mca.legmt.gov/bills/mca/title_0270/chapter_0020/part_0020/section_0060/0270-0020-0020-0060.html
nebraskalegislature.govhttps://nebraskalegislature.gov/laws/statutes.php?statute=25-222
nysenate.govhttps://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/CVP/214?format=raw
law.lis.virginia.govhttps://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title8.01/chapter4/section8.01-246/
azleg.govhttps://www.azleg.gov/ars/12/00542.htm
legislature.idaho.govhttps://legislature.idaho.gov/statutesrules/idstat/Title5/T5CH2/SECT5-219/
mca.legmt.govhttps://mca.legmt.gov/bills/mca/title_0270/chapter_0020/part_0020/section_0050/0270-0020-0020-0050.html
nysenate.govhttps://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/CVP/214-A?format=raw
codes.ohio.govhttps://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-2305.113
app.leg.wa.govhttps://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=4.16.350
ksrevisor.govhttps://www.ksrevisor.gov/statutes/chapters/ch60/060_005_0012.html
malegislature.govhttps://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartIII/TitleV/Chapter260/Section2
mca.legmt.govhttps://mca.legmt.gov/bills/mca/title_0270/chapter_0020/part_0020/section_0020/0270-0020-0020-0020.html
nebraskalegislature.govhttps://nebraskalegislature.gov/laws/statutes.php?statute=25-206
codes.ohio.govhttps://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-2305.07
docs.legis.wisconsin.govhttps://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/statutes/statutes/893/iv
capitol.hawaii.govhttps://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/hrscurrent/Vol13_Ch0601-0676/HRS0657/HRS_0657-0007.htm
malegislature.govhttps://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartIII/TitleV/Chapter260/Section2A
codes.ohio.govhttps://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-2305.10
docs.legis.wisconsin.govhttps://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/statutes/statutes/893/v
nebraskalegislature.govhttps://nebraskalegislature.gov/laws/statutes.php?statute=25-224
mca.legmt.govhttps://mca.legmt.gov/bills/mca/title_0270/chapter_0020/part_0020/section_0070/0270-0020-0020-0070.html
revisor.mo.govhttps://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=516.130
ksrevisor.govhttps://www.ksrevisor.gov/statutes/chapters/ch60/060_005_0011.html
nebraskalegislature.govhttps://nebraskalegislature.gov/laws/statutes.php?statute=25-205
codes.ohio.govhttps://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-2305.06
nebraskalegislature.govhttps://nebraskalegislature.gov/laws/statutes.php?statute=30-810
nysenate.govhttps://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/EPT/5-4.1?format=raw
codes.ohio.govhttps://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-2125.02

Machine-readable

data.jsonThe whole dataset — every record with its source URL and source quote.
Open Knowledge Format bundleOne JSON object per line — every record's frontmatter and quoted span exactly as it is held here, in one fetch.
data.csvThe same records as one flat table, for a spreadsheet or a dataframe. The last four columns are the source URL, the quoted sentence it was read from, the date we last checked it, and which columns are our reading rather than the page's words.
How this is made and checkedWhat "verified against source" does and does not mean.

From your own code

Same records, same quotes, without scraping the page: refsource is on PyPI and npm. Each value comes back carrying the URL it was read from and the sentence on that page that states it — .source and .quote sit on the value itself rather than in a side channel, so the checking step is available instead of skipped.

pip install refsource
refsource lookup state-civil-statute-of-limitations claim_type="Assault or battery"

npx -y refsource lookup state-civil-statute-of-limitations claim_type="Assault or battery"

Set your AI assistant up to use this

Two files and no account. Put this in .mcp.json at the root of your project — Claude Code, Cursor, Windsurf, VS Code and Codex all read that file — and your assistant can look this dataset up instead of recalling it. The server is remote, keyless and read-only.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "referencesource": {
      "type": "http",
      "url": "https://referencesource.org/mcp"
    }
  }
}

Add to Cursor · or, on the command line: claude mcp add --transport http referencesource https://referencesource.org/mcp --scope project

Then one line in the project's CLAUDE.md or AGENTS.md, so the assistant knows when to reach for it:

When a question needs "Civil statute of limitations by state and type of claim", call the referencesource MCP server at https://referencesource.org/mcp (tool `search_records`, dataset_slug `state-civil-statute-of-limitations`) instead of answering from memory — every record it returns carries its source URL and a verbatim quote from that page.

What each tool does, and the servers built over single registers: Connect your AI assistant.

238 records. last verified against source 2026-08-25. due for re-check by 2027-08-25.

Licence. Facts taken from US state statutes, each with a verbatim attributed quote and a link back to the publishing legislature or revisor. The text of a state statute is an edict of government and carries no copyright (a US-wide rule since Wheaton v. Peters, restated for annotations in Georgia v. Public.Resource.Org, 2020). No whole chapter is reproduced: each record carries one provision's operative phrase. No source used here carries a restrictive notice.