Defamation Statute of Limitations: State-by-State Comparison

How does your state’s defamation deadline compare to the rest of the country? Libel (written) or slander (spoken) false statements causing harm. Here’s the full picture.

Range: Defamation deadlines span from 1 year (Arizona, California, Colorado, and 23 others) to 3 years (Arkansas, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and 3 others). The most common deadline is 1 year, used by 26 states.

States Grouped by Filing Window

1-Year States — Act Immediately

Arizona — 1 year

Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 12-541. No major statutory exception documented.

Arizona Details →

California — 1 year

Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 340(c). Single publication rule applies

California Details →

Colorado — 1 year

Colo. Rev. Stat. § 13-80-103. No major statutory exception documented.

Colorado Details →

District of Columbia — 1 year

D.C. Code § 12-301(4). No major statutory exception documented.

District of Columbia Details →

Georgia — 1 year

O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33. No major statutory exception documented.

Georgia Details →

Illinois — 1 year

735 Ill. Comp. Stat. 5/13-201. No major statutory exception documented.

Illinois Details →

Kansas — 1 year

Kan. Stat. Ann. § 60-514(a). No major statutory exception documented.

Kansas Details →

Kentucky — 1 year

Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 413.140(1)(d). No major statutory exception documented.

Kentucky Details →

Louisiana — 1 year

La. Civ. Code Ann. art. 3492. No major statutory exception documented.

Louisiana Details →

Maryland — 1 year

Md. Code Ann., Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-105. No major statutory exception documented.

Maryland Details →

Michigan — 1 year

Mich. Comp. Laws § 600.5805(9). No major statutory exception documented.

Michigan Details →

Mississippi — 1 year

Miss. Code Ann. § 15-1-35. No major statutory exception documented.

Mississippi Details →

Nebraska — 1 year

Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-208. No major statutory exception documented.

Nebraska Details →

New Jersey — 1 year

N.J. Stat. Ann. § 2A:14-3. No major statutory exception documented.

New Jersey Details →

New York — 1 year

N.Y. C.P.L.R. § 215(3). Single publication rule applies

New York Details →

North Carolina — 1 year

N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1-54(3). No major statutory exception documented.

North Carolina Details →

Ohio — 1 year

Ohio Rev. Code § 2305.11(A). No major statutory exception documented.

Ohio Details →

Oklahoma — 1 year

Okla. Stat. tit. 12, § 95(A)(4). No major statutory exception documented.

Oklahoma Details →

Oregon — 1 year

Or. Rev. Stat. § 12.120(2). No major statutory exception documented.

Oregon Details →

Pennsylvania — 1 year

42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5523(1). No major statutory exception documented.

Pennsylvania Details →

Tennessee — 1 year

Tenn. Code Ann. § 28-3-104(a)(1). No major statutory exception documented.

Tennessee Details →

Texas — 1 year

Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.002. No major statutory exception documented.

Texas Details →

Utah — 1 year

Utah Code Ann. § 78B-2-302(2). No major statutory exception documented.

Utah Details →

Virginia — 1 year

Va. Code Ann. § 8.01-247.1. No major statutory exception documented.

Virginia Details →

West Virginia — 1 year

W. Va. Code § 55-2-12(c). No major statutory exception documented.

West Virginia Details →

Wyoming — 1 year

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-3-105(a)(iv)(B). No major statutory exception documented.

Wyoming Details →

Other Deadlines

StateDeadlineOfficial StatuteKey Exception
Alabama2 yearsAla. Code § 6-2-38(k)
Alaska2 yearsAlaska Stat. § 09.10.070
Connecticut2 yearsConn. Gen. Stat. § 52-597
Delaware2 yearsDel. Code Ann. tit. 10, § 8119
Florida2 yearsFla. Stat. § 95.11(4)(g)
Hawaii2 yearsHaw. Rev. Stat. § 657-4
Idaho2 yearsIdaho Code § 5-219(5)
Indiana2 yearsInd. Code § 34-11-2-4
Iowa2 yearsIowa Code § 614.1(2)
Maine2 yearsMe. Rev. Stat. tit. 14, § 753
Minnesota2 yearsMinn. Stat. § 541.07(1)
Missouri2 yearsMo. Rev. Stat. § 516.140
Montana2 yearsMont. Code Ann. § 27-2-204(3)
Nevada2 yearsNev. Rev. Stat. § 11.190(4)(c)
North Dakota2 yearsN.D. Cent. Code § 28-01-18(1)
South Carolina2 yearsS.C. Code Ann. § 15-3-550
South Dakota2 yearsS.D. Codified Laws § 15-2-15(3)
Washington2 yearsWash. Rev. Code § 4.16.100
Wisconsin2 yearsWis. Stat. § 893.57

3-Year States — Longest Deadline

Arkansas — 3 years

Ark. Code Ann. § 16-56-105. No major statutory exception documented.

Arkansas Details →

Massachusetts — 3 years

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 260, § 4. No major statutory exception documented.

Massachusetts Details →

New Hampshire — 3 years

N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 508:4. No major statutory exception documented.

New Hampshire Details →

New Mexico — 3 years

N.M. Stat. Ann. § 37-1-8. No major statutory exception documented.

New Mexico Details →

Rhode Island — 3 years

R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-14(b). No major statutory exception documented.

Rhode Island Details →

Vermont — 3 years

Vt. Stat. Ann. tit. 12, § 512(3). No major statutory exception documented.

Vermont Details →

Key Observations

Most Plaintiff-Friendly States

Most Defendant-Friendly States

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⚠️ Legal Disclaimer: This comparison is for general informational purposes. Statutes change frequently and exceptions apply. Always verify the current rule with a licensed attorney in your state.