What is a statute of limitations?

A statute of limitations is the legal time limit within which a civil lawsuit must be filed. If you miss the deadline, the court will dismiss your case regardless of how strong the underlying claim is. The clock typically starts on the date of the incident, or, under the discovery rule, when you first learned of the harm.

What is the SOL for medical malpractice?

Medical malpractice SOL periods are typically shorter than general personal injury periods and range from 1 to 3 years depending on the state. Many states also impose a statute of repose, an absolute outer limit of 6-10 years regardless of when the harm was discovered. The tool includes medical malpractice as a distinct claim type because of these differences.

Does the SOL differ for federal claims?

Yes. Federal civil rights claims under 42 USC 1983 borrow the personal injury SOL of the state where the claim arose. Federal contract claims against the US government follow a separate 6-year period under the Tucker Act. Employment discrimination claims under Title VII have a 180-day administrative filing deadline (300 days in states with a state agency that handles discrimination complaints) before a civil suit can proceed, plus a separate 90-day window to file suit after receiving a right-to-sue letter from the EEOC. This tool covers state civil claims only; federal claim timelines should be verified with an attorney familiar with federal procedure.

What is a statute of repose and how is it different from a statute of limitations?

A statute of repose sets an absolute outer deadline for filing a claim, counted from the date of the defendant's last act, not from when the harm was discovered. Unlike an SOL, a statute of repose cannot be tolled. Medical malpractice statutes of repose are common, typically running 6-10 years from the date of the alleged negligent act. A statute of repose can bar a claim even if the plaintiff only recently discovered the injury. The tool notes when a statute of repose applies for a given claim type and state.

Is the deadline the same for filing and serving the defendant?

No. Filing the lawsuit with the court stops the SOL clock in most jurisdictions. Serving the defendant is a separate procedural requirement with its own deadline, often 60-120 days after filing depending on the court rules. Some states require both filing and service within the SOL period; verify your state's rule before assuming that filing alone preserves your rights. File first; then serve promptly and confirm the service requirement with your attorney.

Does the SOL clock restart if the defendant makes a payment or acknowledges the debt?

In contract and debt cases, a partial payment or written acknowledgment of the debt can restart the SOL clock in many states. This is most relevant for breach of contract and debt collection claims. If a debtor sends a written acknowledgment that the debt is owed, even without paying, some states treat that as a new starting point for the limitations period. This does not apply to personal injury or tort claims, where only the circumstances of the injury govern the clock.

Statute of Limitations Lookup

Find limitation periods by state and claim type, then calculate your filing deadline from the incident or discovery date.

US stateClaim typeIncident date

Discovery rule applies

Enter a valid incident date

This lookup is for general information only. Statutes of limitations have many exceptions (tolling for minors, disability, fraud concealment). Consult an attorney to confirm your specific deadline.

How this tool works

The tool uses a state-by-state lookup table verified against official state statutes, then applies a deadline formula from either the incident date or the discovery date.

Worked example

Maria was injured in a car accident in California on March 1, 2023. California's personal injury SOL is 2 years under California Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1. Incident date: March 1, 2023 SOL period: 2 years (730 days) Deadline: March 1, 2025 Status as of June 4, 2026: EXPIRED, deadline was March 1, 2025

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Frequently asked questions

What is a statute of limitations?
A statute of limitations is the legal time limit within which a civil lawsuit must be filed. If you miss the deadline, the court will dismiss your case regardless of how strong the underlying claim is. The clock typically starts on the date of the incident, or, under the discovery rule, when you first learned of the harm.
What is the SOL for medical malpractice?
Medical malpractice SOL periods are typically shorter than general personal injury periods and range from 1 to 3 years depending on the state. Many states also impose a statute of repose, an absolute outer limit of 6-10 years regardless of when the harm was discovered. The tool includes medical malpractice as a distinct claim type because of these differences.
Does the SOL differ for federal claims?
Yes. Federal civil rights claims under 42 USC 1983 borrow the personal injury SOL of the state where the claim arose. Federal contract claims against the US government follow a separate 6-year period under the Tucker Act. Employment discrimination claims under Title VII have a 180-day administrative filing deadline (300 days in states with a state agency that handles discrimination complaints) before a civil suit can proceed, plus a separate 90-day window to file suit after receiving a right-to-sue letter from the EEOC. This tool covers state civil claims only; federal claim timelines should be verified with an attorney familiar with federal procedure.
What is a statute of repose and how is it different from a statute of limitations?
A statute of repose sets an absolute outer deadline for filing a claim, counted from the date of the defendant's last act, not from when the harm was discovered. Unlike an SOL, a statute of repose cannot be tolled. Medical malpractice statutes of repose are common, typically running 6-10 years from the date of the alleged negligent act. A statute of repose can bar a claim even if the plaintiff only recently discovered the injury. The tool notes when a statute of repose applies for a given claim type and state.
Is the deadline the same for filing and serving the defendant?
No. Filing the lawsuit with the court stops the SOL clock in most jurisdictions. Serving the defendant is a separate procedural requirement with its own deadline, often 60-120 days after filing depending on the court rules. Some states require both filing and service within the SOL period; verify your state's rule before assuming that filing alone preserves your rights. File first; then serve promptly and confirm the service requirement with your attorney.
Does the SOL clock restart if the defendant makes a payment or acknowledges the debt?
In contract and debt cases, a partial payment or written acknowledgment of the debt can restart the SOL clock in many states. This is most relevant for breach of contract and debt collection claims. If a debtor sends a written acknowledgment that the debt is owed, even without paying, some states treat that as a new starting point for the limitations period. This does not apply to personal injury or tort claims, where only the circumstances of the injury govern the clock.