StepByStateUSA

Filing deadlines by state

How long you generally have to file a lawsuit in each US state and DC. Deadlines can start later, pause or be shortened depending on the facts, so open your state for details and the official law.

General information only, not legal, insurance or financial advice. Not affiliated with any government agency. Missing a deadline can end a claim. If a deadline may be close, speak with a lawyer licensed in your state now.

StatePersonal injuryMedical malpracticeWrongful deathProperty damageProduct liability
Alabama2 years2 years (6 mo. after discovery)2 years from death2 years Under review2 years Under review
Alaska2 years2 years2 years from death2 years2 years
Arizona2 years2 years2 years2 years2 years
Arkansas3 years2 years3 years3 years3 years Under review
California2 years3 years (1 yr after discovery)2 years3 years2 years
Colorado2 years2 years2 years2 years2 years
Connecticut2 years2 years2 years2 years3 years
Delaware2 years2 years2 years2 years2 years Under review
District of Columbia3 years3 years2 years3 years3 years Under review
Florida2 years2 years2 years2 years if based on negligence; 4 years for other property claims Under review4 years
Georgia2 years2 years (5-year repose)2 years4 years2 years (10-year repose)
Hawaii2 years2 years (6-year repose)2 years2 years2 years
Idaho2 years2 years2 years3 years2 years (10-year repose)
Illinois2 years2 years (4-year repose)2 years5 years2 years (10/12-year repose)
Indiana2 years2 years2 years2 years2 years (10-year repose)
Iowa2 years2 years (6-year repose)2 years5 years2 years (15-year repose)
Kansas2 years2 years (4-year repose)2 years2 years2 years (10-year useful-safe-life)
Kentucky1 year1 year (5-year repose)1 year2 years Under review1 year
Louisiana2 years (incidents on or after July 1, 2024)1 year (3-year repose)1 year from death or 2 years from the injury, whichever is longer2 years (incidents on or after July 1, 2024)2 years
Maine6 years3 years3 years6 years6 years (15-year repose) Under review
Maryland3 years5 years from injury or 3 years from discovery3 years from death3 years3 years
Massachusetts3 years3 years; max 7 years (repose)3 years from death or discovery3 years3 years
Michigan3 years2 years (or 6 months from discovery); max 6 years3 years (saving period under § 600.5852)3 years3 years
Minnesota6 years (negligence) / 2 years (intentional torts)4 years3 years from death; max 6 years from act6 years4 years (strict liability) / 6 years (negligence)
Mississippi3 years2 years; max 7 years (repose)3 years (or applicable underlying tort SOL) Under review3 years3 years
Missouri5 years2 years3 years5 years5 years
Montana3 years2 years from injury or discovery (whichever is later); 5-year outer limit3 years2 years Under review3 years Under review
Nebraska4 years2 years (or 1 from discovery); max 10 years2 years from death4 years4 years
Nevada2 years3 years (or 2 from discovery); whichever first2 years from death3 years2 years (personal injury) / 3 years (property damage) Under review
New Hampshire3 years3 years (with discovery)Generally 3 years Under review3 years3 years
New Jersey2 years2 years2 years from death6 years2 years
New Mexico3 years3 years3 years from death4 years3 years
New York3 years2 years 6 months2 years from death3 years3 years
North Carolina3 years3 years2 years from death3 years3 years
North Dakota6 years2 years2 years from death6 years6 years Under review
Ohio2 years1 year2 years from death2 years2 years
Oklahoma2 years2 years2 years from death2 years2 years
Oregon2 years2 years3 years from injury discovery6 years2 years
Pennsylvania2 years2 years2 years from death2 years2 years
Rhode Island3 years3 years3 years from death10 years Under review10 years Under review
South Carolina3 years3 years (max 6 from occurrence)3 years3 years3 years Under review
South Dakota3 years2 years3 years6 years Under review3 years
Tennessee1 year1 year1 year3 years1 year (injury) / 4 years (property)
Texas2 years2 years2 years2 years2 years
Utah4 years2 years from discovery Under review2 years3 years Under review2 years
Vermont3 years3 years (or 2 from discovery)2 years3 years3 years Under review
Virginia2 years2 years2 years5 years2 years (injury) / 5 years (property) Under review
Washington3 years3 years (or 1 from discovery)3 years3 years3 years
West Virginia2 years2 years2 years2 years2 years Under review
Wisconsin3 years3 years (or 1 from discovery)3 years6 years3 years
Wyoming4 years2 years2 years4 years4 years Under review

How we check these deadlines

Each period was compared across three independent 50-state surveys of state law. Where they disagreed, we checked the state's official code and corrected the figure. Every entry links to the official statute so you can read it yourself. Last checked: November 12, 2026.

Cross-checked sources agree   Checked on official code confirmed directly on the state's code site   Under review the rule depends on the type of claim or is being re-checked; read the linked statute.