What is a statute of limitations?

A statute of limitations is the maximum time after an event within which legal proceedings may be started. Once the period expires, the claim is usually time-barred and the court will dismiss it if the defendant raises the limitations defense.

When does the clock start running?

The period generally starts when the claim accrues, which is often the date of the injury, breach, or loss. For fraud and some latent injuries, the discovery rule may delay accrual until the plaintiff knew or should have known of the harm.

Are these periods exact for my case?

No. These are the general civil periods most commonly cited for each claim type. Many exceptions apply, including tolling for minors, defendants out of state, governmental-claim notice deadlines, and discovery-rule extensions. Always confirm the current statute.

Why do contract periods differ for written and oral agreements?

Most states give written contracts a longer limitations period than oral ones because written terms are easier to prove and the law affords them greater certainty. Oral-contract periods are often two to four years shorter than written-contract periods.

Can a statute of limitations be paused?

Yes. Tolling can pause the clock for reasons such as the plaintiff being a minor or legally incapacitated, the defendant fraudulently concealing the claim, or the defendant being absent from the state. Tolling rules vary widely by jurisdiction.

Statute of Limitations by US State

The statute of limitations sets how long after an event a lawsuit may be filed. Periods vary by state and by claim type, so missing one bars an otherwise valid claim. This reference tool lists the common civil limitations periods for every US state and the District of Columbia.

How it works

Each state has its own statutes setting limitations periods, usually counted in years from when the claim accrued. This tool stores the commonly cited period for five categories — written contracts, oral contracts, personal injury, fraud, and property damage — and, if you enter an accrual date, adds the period to compute an approximate deadline:

deadline = accrual_date + sol_years

The discovery rule, tolling, and notice deadlines can move the real date, so treat the result as a starting point.

Tips and notes

Use this to triage deadlines quickly, not as the final word — verify the current statute text before relying on any date, because legislatures amend these periods and courts interpret accrual differently. Watch for shorter governmental-claim notice deadlines, which can require action in months rather than years when suing a public entity. Tolling for minors, incapacity, fraudulent concealment, or an absent defendant can extend the window, while the discovery rule can delay accrual in fraud and latent-injury cases. When the deadline is close, calendar it conservatively and confirm with the controlling state code.