Breach of a verbal or handshake agreement. Deadlines range from 2 to 10 years depending on the state.
✓ All 50 states + D.C. — Updated 2026Quick answer: Oral Contract deadlines range from 2 years (California) to 10 years (Rhode Island). Exact periods, citations and exceptions for every state are listed below.
Data last reviewed: October 2026. General information, not legal advice.
| State ↕ | Years to File ↑ | Official Statute | Key Exception |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 2 yr | Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 339 | — |
| Alaska | 3 yr | Alaska Stat. § 09.10.053 | — |
| Arizona | 3 yr | Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 12-543 | — |
| Arkansas | 3 yr | Ark. Code Ann. § 16-56-105 | — |
| Colorado | 3 yr | Colo. Rev. Stat. § 13-80-101 | — |
| Connecticut | 3 yr | Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-581 | — |
| Delaware | 3 yr | Del. Code Ann. tit. 10, § 8107 | — |
| District of Columbia | 3 yr | D.C. Code § 12-301(8) | — |
| Kansas | 3 yr | Kan. Stat. Ann. § 60-512(1) | — |
| Maryland | 3 yr | Md. Code Ann., Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-101 | — |
| Mississippi | 3 yr | Miss. Code Ann. § 15-1-29 | — |
| New Hampshire | 3 yr | N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 508:4 | — |
| North Carolina | 3 yr | N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1-52(1) | — |
| Oklahoma | 3 yr | Okla. Stat. tit. 12, § 95(A)(2) | — |
| South Carolina | 3 yr | S.C. Code Ann. § 15-3-530(1) | — |
| Virginia | 3 yr | Va. Code Ann. § 8.01-246(4) | — |
| Washington | 3 yr | Wash. Rev. Code § 4.16.080(3) | — |
| Florida | 4 yr | Fla. Stat. § 95.11(3)(k) | — |
| Georgia | 4 yr | O.C.G.A. § 9-3-25 | — |
| Idaho | 4 yr | Idaho Code § 5-217 | — |
| Nebraska | 4 yr | Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-206 | — |
| Nevada | 4 yr | Nev. Rev. Stat. § 11.190(2)(c) | — |
| New Mexico | 4 yr | N.M. Stat. Ann. § 37-1-4 | — |
| Ohio | 4 yr | Ohio Rev. Code § 2305.07 | — |
| Pennsylvania | 4 yr | 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5525(8) | — |
| Texas | 4 yr | Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.004 | — |
| Utah | 4 yr | Utah Code Ann. § 78B-2-307 | — |
| Illinois | 5 yr | 735 Ill. Comp. Stat. 5/13-205 | — |
| Iowa | 5 yr | Iowa Code § 614.1(4) | — |
| Kentucky | 5 yr | Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 413.120(1) | — |
| Missouri | 5 yr | Mo. Rev. Stat. § 516.120(1) | — |
| Montana | 5 yr | Mont. Code Ann. § 27-2-202(2) | — |
| West Virginia | 5 yr | W. Va. Code § 55-2-6 | — |
| Alabama | 6 yr | Ala. Code § 6-2-37 | — |
| Hawaii | 6 yr | Haw. Rev. Stat. § 657-1 | — |
| Indiana | 6 yr | Ind. Code § 34-11-2-7 | — |
| Maine | 6 yr | Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 14, § 752 | — |
| Massachusetts | 6 yr | Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 260, § 2 | — |
| Michigan | 6 yr | Mich. Comp. Laws § 600.5807(7) | — |
| Minnesota | 6 yr | Minn. Stat. § 541.05(1) | — |
| New Jersey | 6 yr | N.J. Stat. Ann. § 2A:14-1 | — |
| New York | 6 yr | N.Y. C.P.L.R. § 213(2) | — |
| North Dakota | 6 yr | N.D. Cent. Code § 28-01-16(2) | — |
| Oregon | 6 yr | Or. Rev. Stat. § 12.080(3) | — |
| South Dakota | 6 yr | S.D. Codified Laws § 15-2-13(2) | — |
| Tennessee | 6 yr | Tenn. Code Ann. § 28-3-105 | — |
| Vermont | 6 yr | Vt. Stat. Ann. tit. 12, § 511 | — |
| Wisconsin | 6 yr | Wis. Stat. § 893.43 | — |
| Wyoming | 8 yr | Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-3-105(a)(ii) | — |
| Louisiana | 10 yr | La. Civ. Code Ann. art. 3499 | — |
| Rhode Island | 10 yr | R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-13(b) | — |
Of 51 jurisdictions, 1 give 2 years, 16 give 3 years, 10 give 4 years, 6 give 5 years, 15 give 6 years, 1 give 8 years, 2 give 10 years.
| Region | Average | Shortest | Longest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northeast | 5.6 years | 3 years | 10 years |
| Midwest | 5.2 years | 3 years | 6 years |
| South | 4.2 years | 3 years | 10 years |
| West | 4.2 years | 2 years | 8 years |
In many states, especially for oral contract claims, the clock doesn't start until you discovered (or reasonably should have discovered) the harm. This is especially important when injuries aren't immediately obvious.
Most states pause (toll) the statute of limitations while the victim is under 18. The clock typically starts running on their 18th birthday. Similar rules may apply to those who are mentally incapacitated.
Suing a city, county, or state agency? Most states require a "Notice of Claim" filed within 60–180 days of the incident — before you can even file a lawsuit. Missing this shorter deadline can permanently bar your claim.
If the defendant actively hid their wrongdoing, courts may extend your deadline. This is called "equitable tolling" due to fraudulent concealment. You generally must show you acted diligently to discover the claim.
Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 339
Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.004
Fla. Stat. § 95.11(3)(k)
N.Y. C.P.L.R. § 213(2)
42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5525(8)
735 Ill. Comp. Stat. 5/13-205
Ohio Rev. Code § 2305.07
O.C.G.A. § 9-3-25
N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1-52(1)
Mich. Comp. Laws § 600.5807(7)
Filing deadlines vary significantly by the type of legal claim. Explore deadlines for other case types across all 50 states.
It depends on the state. Oral Contract deadlines run from 2 years (California) to 10 years (Louisiana and Rhode Island), with a median of 4 years.
California give just 2 years.
Louisiana and Rhode Island give 10 years, the longest in this dataset.
Not always. In 0 of 51 jurisdictions the oral contract start rule in our data refers to discovery of the harm. Check the state page for the exact accrual rule.
Use the table above or the map to open your state's page, which lists the statute citation, when the clock starts and common exceptions.
StatuteLimits.com. "Oral Contract Statute of Limitations by State (2026)." Reviewed October 2026. https://www.statutelimits.com/case-types/oral-contract
Statute of limitations rules for oral contract cases are complex. Exceptions, tolling rules, and government notice requirements can significantly change your actual deadline.
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