The chart below contains common statutes of limitations—the number of years you have to file a particular type of lawsuit—for all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
The rules and procedures in this area are complex, and the consequences for failing to follow them are harsh—you'll lose the right to pursue your action. When in doubt, seek legal counsel. An experienced lawyer should be able to explain the relevant legal issues, including tricky points like whether a limitations period has been affected by special rules related to COVID-19.
State | Statute | Written contract | Oral contract | Injury | Property damage |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Alabama | Ala. Code § 6-2-30 et seq. * | 6 | 6 | 2 | 6 |
Alaska | Alaska Stat. § 09.10.010 et seq. | 3 | 3 | 2 | 6 (real property); 2 (personal property) |
Arizona | Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 12-541 et seq. | 6 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
Arkansas | Ark. Code Ann. § 16-56-101 et seq. | 5 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
California |
Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 312 et seq. |
4 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
Colorado | Colo. Rev. Stat. § 13-80-101 et seq. | 3 (6 most debts; rent) (2 tortious breach) |
3 (6 short-term debt/rent ) (2 tortious breach) |
2 (injuries from motor vehicle accidents, 3 years) | 2 (damage from motor vehicle accidents, 3 years) |
Connecticut | Conn. Gen. Stat. Ann. § 52-575 et seq. | 6 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
Delaware | Del. Code Ann. tit. 10, § 8101 et seq. | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
District of Columbia | D.C. Code § 12-301 et seq. | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
Florida | Fla. Stat. Ann. § 95.011 et seq. | 5 | 4 | 2 | 4 |
Georgia | Ga. Code Ann. § 9-3-20 et seq. | 6 | 4 | 2 | 4 |
Hawaii | Haw. Rev. Stat. § 657-1 et seq. | 6 | 6 | 2 | 2 |
Idaho | Idaho Code § 5-201 et seq. | 5 | 4 | 2 | 3 |
Illinois | 735 Ill. Comp. Stat. 5/13-201 et seq. | 10 | 5 | 2 | 5 |
Indiana | Ind. Code Ann. § 34-11-2-1 et seq. | 10 | 6 | 2 | 6 (real property); 2 (personal property) |
Iowa | Iowa Code Ann. § 614.1 et seq. | 10 | 5 | 2 | 5 |
Kansas | Kan. Stat. Ann. § 60-501 et seq. | 5 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
Kentucky | Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 413.080 et seq. | 10 (15 years for contracts entered into on or before July 15, 2014) | 5 | 1 (injuries from motor vehicle accidents, 2 years) | 5 (real property); 3 (personal property) |
Louisiana | La. civil code § 3493.1 et seq. | 10 | 10 | 2 | 2 |
Maine | Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. tit. 14, § 751 et seq. | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
Maryland | Md. Courts & Jud. Proc. Code Ann. § 5-101 et seq. | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
Massachusetts | Mass. Ann. Laws ch. 260, § 1 et seq. | 6 | 6 | 3 | 3 |
Michigan | Mich. Comp. Laws § 600.5801 et seq. | 6 | 6 | 3 | 3 |
Minnesota | Minn. Stat. Ann. § 541.01 et seq. | 6 | 6 | 2 | 6 |
Mississippi | Miss. Code. Ann. § 15-1-1 et seq. | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
Missouri | Mo. Rev. Stat. § 516.097 et seq. | 10 (If contract is for something other than payment of money or property, then the statute of limitations is five years.) | 5 | 5 | 5 |
Montana | Mont. Code Ann. § 27-2-202 et seq. | 8 | 5 | 3 | 2 |
Nebraska | Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-201 et seq. | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
Nevada | Nev. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 11.010 et seq. | 6 | 4 | 2 | 3 |
New Hampshire | N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 508:1 et seq. | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
New Jersey | N.J. Stat. Ann. § 2a:14-1 et seq. | 6 | 6 | 2 | 6 |
New Mexico | N.M. Stat. Ann. § 37-1-1 et seq. | 6 | 4 | 3 | 4 |
New York | N.Y. Civ. Prac. Laws & Rules § 201 et seq. | 6 | 6 | 3 | 3 |
North Carolina | N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1-46 et seq. | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
North Dakota | N.D. Cent. Code § 28-01-01 et seq. | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
Ohio | Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 2305.03 et seq. | 6 | 4 or 6 | 2 | 4 (real property); 2 (personal property) |
Oklahoma | Okla. Stat. Ann. tit. 12, § 91 et seq. | 5 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
Oregon | Or. Rev. Stat. § 12.010 et seq. | 6 | 6 | 2 | 6 |
Pennsylvania | 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. Ann. § 5501 et seq. | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 |
Rhode Island | R. I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-12 et seq. | 10 | 10 | 3 | 10 |
South Carolina | S.C. Code Ann. § 15-3-510 et seq. | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
South Dakota | S.D. Codified Laws Ann. § 15-2-1 et seq. | 6 | 6 | 3 | 6 |
Tennessee | Tenn. Code Ann. § 28-3-101 et seq. | 6; 3 (unpaid wages) | 6; 3 (unpaid wages) | 1 | 3 |
Texas | Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.001 et seq., Tex. Bus. & Com. Code Ann. § 2.725 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 |
Utah | Utah Code Ann. § 78B-2-101 et seq. | 6 | 4 | 4 | 3 |
Vermont | Vt. Stat. Ann. tit. 12, § 461 et seq. | 6 | 6 | 3 | 6 (real property); 3 (personal property) |
Virginia | Va. Code Ann. § 8.01-228 et seq. | 5 | 3 | 2 | 5 |
Washington | Wash. Rev. Code Ann. § 4.16.005 et seq. | 6 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
West Virginia | W. Va. Code § 55-2-1 et seq. | 10 | 5 | 2 | 2 |
Wisconsin | Wis. Stat. Ann. § 893.01 et seq. | 6 | 6 | 3 | 6 |
Wyoming | Wyo. Stat. § 1-3-102 et seq. | 10 | 8 | 4 | 4 |