Breach of a signed written agreement or contract. Deadlines range from 3 to 10 years depending on the state.
✓ All 50 states + D.C. — Updated 2026Quick answer: Written Contract deadlines range from 3 years (Alaska) to 10 years (Wyoming). Exact periods, citations and exceptions for every state are listed below.
Data last reviewed: October 2026. General information, not legal advice.
Each tile is a state; color shows the written contract filing period. Click a state for details.
| State ↕ | Years to File ↑ | Official Statute | Key Exception |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | 3 yr | Alaska Stat. § 09.10.053 | — |
| Colorado | 3 yr | Colo. Rev. Stat. § 13-80-103.5 | Actions to collect liquidated debts: 6 years (C.R.S. § 13-80-103.5) |
| Delaware | 3 yr | Del. Code Ann. tit. 10, § 8106 | — |
| District of Columbia | 3 yr | D.C. Code § 12-301(7) | — |
| 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) | — |
| South Carolina | 3 yr | S.C. Code Ann. § 15-3-530(1) | — |
| California | 4 yr | Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 337 | — |
| Pennsylvania | 4 yr | 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5525(8) | — |
| Texas | 4 yr | Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.004 | — |
| Arkansas | 5 yr | Ark. Code Ann. § 16-56-111 | — |
| Florida | 5 yr | Fla. Stat. § 95.11(2)(b) | — |
| Idaho | 5 yr | Idaho Code § 5-216 | — |
| Kansas | 5 yr | Kan. Stat. Ann. § 60-511(1) | — |
| Nebraska | 5 yr | Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-205 | — |
| Oklahoma | 5 yr | Okla. Stat. tit. 12, § 95(A)(1) | — |
| Virginia | 5 yr | Va. Code Ann. § 8.01-246(2) | — |
| Alabama | 6 yr | Ala. Code § 6-2-34 | — |
| Arizona | 6 yr | Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 12-548 | — |
| Connecticut | 6 yr | Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-576 | — |
| Georgia | 6 yr | O.C.G.A. § 9-3-24 | — |
| Hawaii | 6 yr | Haw. Rev. Stat. § 657-1 | — |
| 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(8) | — |
| Minnesota | 6 yr | Minn. Stat. § 541.05(1) | — |
| Nevada | 6 yr | Nev. Rev. Stat. § 11.190(1)(b) | — |
| New Jersey | 6 yr | N.J. Stat. Ann. § 2A:14-1 | — |
| New Mexico | 6 yr | N.M. Stat. Ann. § 37-1-3 | — |
| New York | 6 yr | N.Y. C.P.L.R. § 213(2) | — |
| North Dakota | 6 yr | N.D. Cent. Code § 28-01-16(1) | — |
| Ohio | 6 yr | Ohio Rev. Code § 2305.06 | — |
| Oregon | 6 yr | Or. Rev. Stat. § 12.080(1) | — |
| South Dakota | 6 yr | S.D. Codified Laws § 15-2-13(1) | — |
| Tennessee | 6 yr | Tenn. Code Ann. § 28-3-109 | — |
| Utah | 6 yr | Utah Code Ann. § 78B-2-309 | — |
| Vermont | 6 yr | Vt. Stat. Ann. tit. 12, § 511 | — |
| Washington | 6 yr | Wash. Rev. Code § 4.16.040(1) | — |
| Wisconsin | 6 yr | Wis. Stat. § 893.43 | — |
| Montana | 8 yr | Mont. Code Ann. § 27-2-202(1) | — |
| Illinois | 10 yr | 735 Ill. Comp. Stat. 5/13-206 | — |
| Indiana | 10 yr | Ind. Code § 34-11-2-11 | — |
| Iowa | 10 yr | Iowa Code § 614.1(5) | — |
| Kentucky | 10 yr | Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 413.090(2) | — |
| Louisiana | 10 yr | La. Civ. Code Ann. art. 3499 | — |
| Missouri | 10 yr | Mo. Rev. Stat. § 516.110(1) | — |
| Rhode Island | 10 yr | R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-13(a) | — |
| West Virginia | 10 yr | W. Va. Code § 55-2-6 | — |
| Wyoming | 10 yr | Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-3-105(a)(i) | — |
Of 51 jurisdictions, 9 give 3 years, 3 give 4 years, 7 give 5 years, 22 give 6 years, 1 give 8 years, 9 give 10 years.
| Region | Average | Shortest | Longest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northeast | 5.9 years | 3 years | 10 years |
| Midwest | 7.2 years | 5 years | 10 years |
| South | 5.3 years | 3 years | 10 years |
| West | 5.8 years | 3 years | 10 years |
In many states, especially for written 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 § 337
Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.004
Fla. Stat. § 95.11(2)(b)
N.Y. C.P.L.R. § 213(2)
42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5525(8)
735 Ill. Comp. Stat. 5/13-206
Ohio Rev. Code § 2305.06
O.C.G.A. § 9-3-24
N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1-52(1)
Mich. Comp. Laws § 600.5807(8)
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. Written Contract deadlines run from 3 years (Alaska, Colorado, Delaware and 6 more) to 10 years (Illinois, Indiana, Iowa and 6 more), with a median of 6 years.
Alaska, Colorado, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Mississippi and 3 more give just 3 years.
Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri and 3 more give 10 years, the longest in this dataset.
Not always. In 0 of 51 jurisdictions the written 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. "Written Contract Statute of Limitations by State (2026)." Reviewed October 2026. https://www.statutelimits.com/case-types/written-contract
Statute of limitations rules for written contract cases are complex. Exceptions, tolling rules, and government notice requirements can significantly change your actual deadline.
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