Nursing Home Abuse Statute of Limitations: State-by-State Comparison

How does your state’s nursing home abuse deadline compare to the rest of the country? Neglect, abuse, or exploitation of residents in nursing homes and care facilities. Here’s the full picture.

Range: Nursing Home Abuse deadlines span from 1 year (Kentucky, Tennessee) to 6 years (Maine, North Dakota). The most common deadline is 2 years, used by 25 states.

States Grouped by Filing Window

1-Year States — Act Immediately

Kentucky — 1 year

Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 413.140(1)(a). Gov entities: Notice of claim within 1 year

Kentucky Details →

Tennessee — 1 year

Tenn. Code Ann. § 28-3-104(a)(1). Gov entities: Notice within 12 months under GTLA

Tennessee Details →

2-Year States — The Most Common Deadline

StateDeadlineOfficial StatuteKey Exception
Alabama2 yearsAla. Code § 6-2-38Gov entities: must file Notice of Claim within 6 months
Alaska2 yearsAlaska Stat. § 09.10.070Minors: tolled until age 18, then 2 years
Arizona2 yearsAriz. Rev. Stat. § 12-542Gov entities: 180-day notice of claim required
California2 yearsCal. Civ. Proc. Code § 335.1Gov entities: Gov't Tort Claims Act — 6 months to file claim with agency
Connecticut2 yearsConn. Gen. Stat. § 52-584Gov entities: Notice of claim within 90 days required
Delaware2 yearsDel. Code Ann. tit. 10, § 8119Gov entities: Notice within 1 year required
Florida2 yearsFla. Stat. § 95.11(3)(a)⚠️ Shortened from 4 years to 2 years effective March 24, 2023
Georgia2 yearsO.C.G.A. § 9-3-33Gov entities: Ante Litem notice within 12 months for counties, 6 months for municipalities
Hawaii2 yearsHaw. Rev. Stat. § 657-7Gov entities: 6-month notice of claim required
Idaho2 yearsIdaho Code § 5-219(4)Gov entities: 180-day notice of claim required
Illinois2 years735 Ill. Comp. Stat. 5/13-202Gov entities: State must file within 1 year; municipalities within 1 year
Indiana2 yearsInd. Code § 34-11-2-4Gov entities: Notice of tort claim within 270 days
Iowa2 yearsIowa Code § 614.1(2)Gov entities: 60-day notice of claim required
Kansas2 yearsKan. Stat. Ann. § 60-513(a)(4)Gov entities: Notice of claim within 1 year required
Louisiana2 yearsLa. Civ. Code Ann. art. 3493.10⚠️ Extended from 1 year to 2 years effective July 1, 2024
Minnesota2 yearsMinn. Stat. § 541.07(1)Gov entities: Notice of claim within 180 days
Nevada2 yearsNev. Rev. Stat. § 11.190(4)(e)Gov entities: Notice of claim within 2 years
New Jersey2 yearsN.J. Stat. Ann. § 2A:14-2Gov entities: Notice of Claim within 90 days under NJ Tort Claims Act
Ohio2 yearsOhio Rev. Code § 2305.10Gov entities: Notice within 180 days for political subdivisions
Oklahoma2 yearsOkla. Stat. tit. 12, § 95(A)(3)Gov entities: Notice of claim within 1 year
Oregon2 yearsOr. Rev. Stat. § 12.110(1)Gov entities: Notice of Tort Claim within 180 days
Pennsylvania2 years42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5524(2)Gov entities: 6-month notice required for most claims
Texas2 yearsTex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003Gov entity: written notice within 6 months required
Virginia2 yearsVa. Code Ann. § 8.01-243(A)Gov entities: Notice of claim within 1 year
West Virginia2 yearsW. Va. Code § 55-2-12(b)Gov entities: Notice within 1 year

Other Deadlines

StateDeadlineOfficial StatuteKey Exception
Arkansas3 yearsArk. Code Ann. § 16-56-105Gov entities: written notice within 1 year required
Colorado3 yearsColo. Rev. Stat. § 13-80-101Gov entities: 182-day notice of claim required
District of Columbia3 yearsD.C. Code § 12-301(8)Gov entities: Notice within 6 months required
Maryland3 yearsMd. Code Ann., Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-101Gov entities: Notice of claim within 1 year required
Massachusetts3 yearsMass. Gen. Laws ch. 260, § 2AGov entities: Present claim to government within 2 years
Michigan3 yearsMich. Comp. Laws § 600.5805(2)Gov entities: 60-day notice required, then 1 year to file
Mississippi3 yearsMiss. Code Ann. § 15-1-49Gov entities: Notice of claim required
Montana3 yearsMont. Code Ann. § 27-2-204Gov entities: Notice of claim within 1 year
New Hampshire3 yearsN.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 508:4Gov entities: Notice of claim within 180 days
New Mexico3 yearsN.M. Stat. Ann. § 37-1-8Gov entities: Notice of claim within 90 days
New York3 yearsN.Y. C.P.L.R. § 214(5)Gov entities: Notice of Claim within 90 days
North Carolina3 yearsN.C. Gen. Stat. § 1-52(5)Gov entities: written notice within 1 year required
Rhode Island3 yearsR.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-14(b)Gov entities: Presentment within 3 years with additional procedures
South Carolina3 yearsS.C. Code Ann. § 15-3-530(5)Gov entities: Notice of Claim within 1 year under the SCTCA
South Dakota3 yearsS.D. Codified Laws § 15-2-14.1Gov entities: Notice within 1 year required
Vermont3 yearsVt. Stat. Ann. tit. 12, § 512(4)Gov entities: Notice within 1 year of incident
Washington3 yearsWash. Rev. Code § 4.16.080(2)Gov entities: Notice of claim within 1 year under RCW 4.96
Wisconsin3 yearsWis. Stat. § 893.54(1m)Gov entities: Notice within 120 days required
Nebraska4 yearsNeb. Rev. Stat. § 25-207Gov entities: State Tort Claims Act — notice within 2 years
Utah4 yearsUtah Code Ann. § 78B-2-307Gov entities: Notice of claim within 1 year
Wyoming4 yearsWyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-3-105(a)(iv)(C)Gov entities: Notice within 1 year required
Missouri5 yearsMo. Rev. Stat. § 516.120(4)Gov entities: 90-day notice required

6-Year States — Longest Deadline

Maine — 6 years

Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 14, § 752. Gov entities: written notice within 180 days

Maine Details →

North Dakota — 6 years

N.D. Cent. Code § 28-01-16(5). Gov entities: Notice of claim within 3 years

North Dakota 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.