Statute of Limitations
Statutes of limitations are laws which say how long, after certain events, a case may be started based on those events.
| Case | Time Since | The Law |
|---|---|---|
| Arson | No time limit, 2 or 5 years depending on the facts | Crim. Proc. 30.10(2)(a) or (b) or (c) |
| Assault/Battery | 1 year from act (Civil); 2 or 5 years depending on the facts (Criminal) | CPLR 215(3); Crim. Proc. 30.10(2)(b) or (c) |
| Burglary | 2 or 5 years depending on the facts | Crim. Proc. 30.10(2)(b) or (c) |
| Car accidents | 3 years from date of accident | CPLR 214(4) |
| Child sex abuse | most cases until victim turns 55 (Civil) or turns 28 (Criminal) | CPLR 214-G; Crim. Proc. 30.10(3)(f) |
| Class A felony | No statute of limitations | Crim. Proc. 30.10(2)(a) |
| Contract in writing | 6 years | CPLR 213(2) |
| Contract oral or not in writing | 6 years | CPLR 213(2) |
| Debt collection | 3 years *If the company is based outside of New York State, the statute of limitations may be even shorter depending on that state’s statute of limitations. |
CPLR 214-i |
| Emotional distress (intentional) | 1 year from act | CPLR 215(3); 14 N.Y.Prac., New York Law of Torts 1:40 |
| Emotional distress (negligent) | 3 years from date of accident | 75A Jur. 2d, Limitations and Laches 215 |
| Enforcing court judgments | 20 years | CPLR 211(b) |
| False imprisonment | 1 year (Civil) | CPLR 215(3) |
| Fraud | 6 years | CPLR213(8) |
| Kidnapping | No time limit or 5 years depending on the facts | Crim. Proc. 30.10(2)(a) or (b) |
| Legal malpractice | 3 years | CPLR 214(6) |
| Libel/Slander | 1 year from act | CPLR 215(3) |
| Manslaughter 1st & 2nd degrees | 5 years | Crim. Proc. 30.10(2)(b) |
| Medical malpractice | 2 years and 6 months from date of malpractice or from end of continuous treatment rendered by the party or entity you intend to sue for a particular condition, illness or injury | CPLR 214-A |
| Misdemeanors | 2 years | Crim. Proc. 30.10(2)(c) |
| Mortgages | 6 years | CPLR 213(4) |
| Murder, 1st degree | No time limit | Crim. Proc. 30.10(2)(a) |
| New York City & New York State | 90 days to give notice; 1 year and 90 days | CPLR 217-A |
| Other felonies | 5 years | Crim. Proc. 30.10(2)(b) |
| Other negligence resulting in personal injury | 3 years from date of accident | CPLR 214(5) |
| Petty offense | 1 year | Crim. Proc. 30.10(2)(d) |
| Product liability | 3 years from date of accident | CPLR 214(3) |
| Property damage | 3 years | CPLR 214(4) or CPLR 214-C |
| Rape | No time limit | Crim. Proc. 30.10(2)(a) |
| Receiving stolen property | 2 or 5 years depending on the facts | Crim. Proc. 30.10(2)(b) or (c) |
| Robbery | 5 years | Crim. Proc. 30.10(2)(b) |
| Slip and fall | 3 years from date of accident | CPLR 214(5) |
| Store credit cards | 4 years | UCC 2-725(1) |
| Theft (“Larceny”) | 2 or 5 years depending on the facts | Crim. Proc. 30.10(2)(b) or (c) |
| Trespass | 3 years | CPLR 214(4) |
| Wrongful death | 2 years from death | EPTL 5-4.1 |
