s of Limitations in All 50 s Nolo.com Page 6 of 14 Updated September 18, 2015 The chart below contains common statutes of limitations for all 50 states, expressed in years. We provide this chart as a rough guide. Check your state's actual statutes of limitations for the time limit for your specific claim, which may be different than what you read here. For example, time limits for filing a lawsuit to recover on a bad debt are often shorter than the time limits for filing a lawsuit for breaches of other types of s. And while in some states the statute of limitations for foreclosing on a mortgage is the same as for written s, in other states there is a separate law and time period. Looking at the actual law will also help you determine when the statute of limitations begins to run, the events that delay or toll the limitations period, and any other time periods that can cut off the ability to sue. Also, keep in mind that court rulings can determine the way that the statutes apply and even make them unenforceable. The rules and procedure in this area are complex. The time period might be different for an action against the government. You might have to file a particular kind of claim before suing. You might have grounds for a different or an additional claim with a different statute of limitations than what you thought. Because of all the complexity, an experienced lawyer is your best bet for enforcing or protecting your rights. s of Limitations for the 50 s (and the District of Columbia) Alabama Ala. Code 6-2-30 et *
s of Limitations in All 50 s Nolo.com Page 7 of 14 Alaska Alaska Stat. 09.10.010 et 3 3 2 6 (real property); 2 (personal property) Arizona Arkansas California Ariz. Rev. 12-541 et Ark. Code Ann. 16-56- 101 et Cal. Civ. Proc. Code 312 et 6 3 2 2 5 3 3 3 4 2 2 3 Colorado Colo. Rev. Stat. 13-80- 101 et 3 (6 most debts; rent) (2 tortious breach) 3 (6 shortterm debt/rent ) (2 tortious breach) 2 (injuries from motor vehicle accidents, 3 years) 2 Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Florida Georgia Conn. Gen. 52-575 et Del. Code Ann. tit. 10, 8101 et D.C. Code 12-301 et Fla. Stat. Ann. 95.011 et Ga. Code Ann. 9-3-20 et 6 3 2 2 3 3 2 2 5 4 4 4 6 4 2 4
s of Limitations in All 50 s Nolo.com Page 8 of 14 Hawaii Haw. Rev. Stat. 657-1 et 6 6 2 2 Idaho Idaho Code 5-201 et 5 4 2 3 Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas 735 Ill. Comp. Stat. 5/13-201 et Ind. Code Ann. 34-11- 2-1 et Iowa Code Ann. 614.1 et Kan. Stat. Ann. 60-501 et 10 5 2 5 10 6 2 6 (real property); 2 (personal property) 10 5 2 5 5 3 2 2 Kentucky Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. 413.080 et 10 (15 years for s entered into on or before July 15, 2014) 5 1 5 (real property); 3 (personal property) Louisiana Maine Maryland La. civil code 3492 et Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. tit. 14, 751 et Md. Courts & Jud. Proc. 5-101 et 10 10 1 1 6 6 6 6
s of Limitations in All 50 s Nolo.com Page 9 of 14 Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Mass. Ann. Laws ch. 260, 1 et Mich. Comp. Laws 600.5801 et Minn. Stat. Ann. 541.01 et Miss. Code. Ann. 15-1-1 et 6 3 3 3 Missouri Mo. Rev. Stat. 516.097 et 10 (If is for something other than payment of money or property, then the statute of limitations is five years.) 5 5 5 Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire Mont. Code Ann. 27-2- 202 et Neb. Rev. Stat. 25-201 et Nev. Rev. 11.010 et N.H. Rev. 508:1 et 8 5 3 2 5 4 4 4 6 4 2 3
s of Limitations in All 50 s Nolo.com Page 10 of 14 New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island N.J. Stat. Ann. 2a:14-1 et N.M. Stat. Ann. 37-1-1 et N.Y. Civ. Prac. Laws & Rules 201 et N.C. Gen. Stat. 1-46 et N.D. Cent. Code 28-01-01 et Ohio Rev. 2305.03 et Okla. Stat. Ann. tit. 12, 91 et Or. Rev. Stat. 12.010 et 42 Pa. Cons. 5501 et R. I. Gen. Laws 9-1-12 et 6 4 3 4 6 6 6 6 8 6 2 4 5 3 2 2 4 4 2 2 10 10 3 10
s of Limitations in All 50 s Nolo.com Page 11 of 14 South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia S.C. Code Ann. 15-3- 510 et S.D. Codified Laws Ann. 15-2-1 et Tenn. Code Ann. 28-3- 101 et Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code 16.001 et, Tex. Bus. & Com. 2.725 Utah Code Ann. 78B-2-101 et Vt. Stat. Ann. tit. 12, 461 et Va. Code Ann. 8.01-228 et Wash. Rev. 4.16.005 et W. Va. Code 55-2-1 et 6 6 3 6 6 6 1 3 4 4 2 2 6 4 4 3 5 3 2 5 6 3 3 3 10 5 2 2
s of Limitations in All 50 s Nolo.com Page 12 of 14 Wisconsin Wis. Stat. Ann. 893.01 et 6 6 3 6 Wyoming Wyo. Stat. 1-3-102 et 10 8 4 4 More Information When Should You Sue? (http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/when-should-you-sue- 29900.html) Demand Letters: The Basics (http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/demand-letter-settledispute-30105.html) Subject Matter Jurisdiction: Should I File in Federal or Court? (http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/subject-matter-jurisdiction-state-federal- 29884.html) Court Jurisdiction (http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/subject-matter-jurisdictionstate-federal-29884-2.html) Courts: Venue Rules Govern Where You Can File Your Lawsuit (http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/state-courts-venue-rules-govern-29656.html) Courts: Different Courts Hear Different Types of Cases (http://www.nolo.com/legalencyclopedia/state-courts-different-types-cases-29529.html) ogle.com/share? 2F% om%2flegal- %2Fstatute-ofe-laws-chart- rer/sharer.php? om%2flegal- tations-state-